H.R. 6232House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Disaster Medical System, to provide for certain laboratory reimbursement for diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in uninsured individuals.

Introduced March 12, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:22 AM UTC

The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, using the National Disaster Medical System, to pay laboratories for COVID‑19 diagnostic tests performed on people who do not have health insurance. It sets the payment amount to match the rates used for physicians and labs under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule. The measure applies to uninsured individuals and provides up to $1 billion in funding to cover these reimbursements.

Key Provisions

  • Requires HHS, through the National Disaster Medical System, to reimburse labs for COVID‑19 diagnostic testing of uninsured patients at the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule rate.
  • Defines “uninsured individual” as anyone not enrolled in a federal health program, a group health plan, or an individual market health insurance plan.
  • Authorizes up to $1 billion in Treasury funds, available until spent, to support the reimbursement program.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

March 12, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 12, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

March 12, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 12, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6232

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 12, 2020

Mr. Cárdenas (for himself, Ms. Sánchez, and Mr. Castro of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Disaster Medical System, to provide for certain laboratory reimbursement for diagnostic testing for COVID–19 in uninsured individuals.

1.

Reimbursement for diagnostic testing for Covid–19 in uninsured individuals

(a)

Reimbursement

Through the National Disaster Medical System under section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–11), and in coordination with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (c), pay the claims of laboratories for reimbursement, as described in subsection (a)(3)(D) of such section 2812, for health services consisting of diagnostic testing to detect or diagnose COVID–19 in uninsured individuals. The amount that will be paid shall be equal to the amount that would have been paid to a physician or laboratory under Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule under section 1833(h)(8) of the Social Security Act.

(b)

Definition

In this section, the term uninsured individual means an individual who is not enrolled in—

(1)

a Federal health care program (as defined under section 1128B(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b(f))); or

(2)

a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the group or individual market (as such terms are defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91)) or a health plan offered under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.

(c)

Funding

To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated, and there is hereby appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise obligated, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.