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Medicare, which covers nearly 60 million Americans, will provide free over-the-counter rapid coronavirus tests from spring. according to the federal government’s Medicare and Medicaid agency.

The policy will “allow Medicare beneficiaries to take the tests at the point of sale free of charge and with no reimbursement” The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said ThursdayHe added that for the first time, Medicare will cover the full cost of an over-the-counter test.

The announcement came after weeks of outcry from lawmakers and health advocates who argued that Medicare recipients were ignored in the administration’s pressure to require private insurance companies to cover the tests.

Under the plan, which will also apply to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, Medicare will pay eligible pharmacies and healthcare providers to deliver the tests. Management did not say how many pharmacies will participate.

Enrollees will be able to take up to eight exams each month; This number also applies to privately insured Americans. a set of new requirements The Biden administration announced it last month.

The administration said the new Medicare program won’t start until “early spring.” Increase in cases caused by the Omicron variant, already falling, may have decreased significantly by that time. Even so, the tests gave the Americans possible future fluctuations perhaps driven by different variantsand as people start to gather around more often with fewer cases of the virus.

The free tests covered by Medicare would go to some of the most vulnerable parts of the U.S. population. The vast majority of Medicare enrollees are 65 years or older; others are young people with disabilities.

Because new treatments for the virus are to be effective, they must be given in the early stages of infection. quickly test and identify cases critical to their use.

After Biden management announced new guidelines for test reimbursement under private insurance plans, Lawmakers urged Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services To extend coverage to Medicare enrollees. Frequent use of rapid tests, which typically cost around $10 each when paid out-of-pocket and are often packaged in pairs, can be prohibitively expensive for many Americans.

“The cost of paying for tests and the time it takes to find free testing options are barriers that could deter Medicare beneficiaries from getting tested, leading to further social isolation and the continued spread of the virus,” said AARP’s Nancy LeaMond. A statement praising management for the new policy on Thursday.

The plan is the latest move in federal efforts to introduce faster testing after President Biden received a sharp public backlash over the lack of testing during the holidays, when cases of the Omicron variant skyrocketed. Increased demand for tests. As the Biden administration hunted for tests to buymanufacturers have struggled to meet demand from public and commercial buyers worldwide.

Management has already mailed tens of millions of free quick tests as part of a project. new Postal Service programThe White House said last week. Each American household can order up to four tests through this program for now. At least 60 million households, nearly half of the total in the United States, have ordered tests from the program, which uses a website and hotline for orders. Like all Americans, Medicare enrollees are eligible to take these tests.

Medicare enrollees are also able to get free coronavirus tests when tested at more than 20,000 community sites, as well as by healthcare providers, the Biden administration said on Thursday.