H.R. 6214House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of testing for COVID-19 at no cost sharing under the Medicare Advantage program.

Sponsored by Ron KindRep. Ron Kind (D-WI)
Introduced March 12, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:23 AM UTC

The bill changes the Social Security Act so that Medicare Advantage plans must pay for COVID‑19 testing without any cost‑sharing by beneficiaries. It adds new categories of covered items—diagnostic tests for SARS‑CoV‑2 and related testing services—during the declared emergency period, and bars plans from requiring prior authorization or other utilization controls for those items. The Health and Human Services Secretary is given authority to put the changes into effect.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new subcategory for in‑vitro diagnostic products used to detect SARS‑CoV‑2, requiring Medicare Advantage plans to cover them at no cost to the patient.
  • Adds a new subcategory for specified COVID‑19 testing‑related services, also to be covered without cost sharing.
  • Prohibits Medicare Advantage plans from applying prior authorization or other utilization‑management requirements to the covered COVID‑19 tests and services.
  • Allows the HHS Secretary to implement the amendments through program instructions or other means.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

March 12, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 12, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

March 12, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

March 12, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 12, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6214

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 12, 2020

Mr. Kind (for himself, Mrs. Trahan, and Ms. Barragán) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of testing for COVID–19 at no cost sharing under the Medicare Advantage program.

1.

Coverage of testing for COVID–19 at no cost sharing under the Medicare Advantage program

(a)

In general

Section 1852(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–22(a)(1)(B)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (iv)—

(A)

by redesignating subclause (IV) as subclause (VI); and

(B)

by inserting after subclause (III) the following new subclauses:

(IV)

In vitro diagnostic products (as defined in section 809.3(a) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations) administered during any portion of the emergency period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) beginning on or after the date of the enactment of clause (vi) for the detection of SARS–CoV–2 or the diagnosis of the virus that causes COVID–19 that are approved, cleared, or authorized under section 510(k), 513, 515 or 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the administration of such in vitro diagnostic products.

(V)

Specified COVID–19 testing-related services (as described in section 1833(cc)(1)) for which payment would be payable under a specified outpatient payment provision described in section 1833(cc)(2).

;

(2)

in clause (v), by inserting , other than subclauses (IV) and (V) of such clause, after clause (iv); and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new clause:

(vi)

Prohibition of application of certain requirements for COVID–19 testing

In the case of a product or service described in subclause (IV) or (V), respectively, of clause (iv) that is administered or furnished during any portion of the emergency period described in such subclause beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this clause, an MA plan may not impose any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements with respect to the coverage of such a product or service under such plan.

.

(b)

Implementation

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the amendments made by this section by program instruction or otherwise.