Posted on Mar 29, 2022
Free COVID tests and treatments no longer free for uninsured, as funding runs out
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/29/ [login to see] /free-covid-tests-and-treatments-no-longer-free-for-uninsured-as-funding-runs-out
The first real-world consequences of dwindling federal COVID-19 funds have started to be felt in recent days.
Coronavirus tests for uninsured patients are no longer free in some places. That's because the program that reimbursed clinics and hospitals for the testing, as well as for treating uninsured patients with COVID-19, stopped accepting claims last week "due to lack of sufficient funds." Some clinics have already started to turn away people without insurance who come to get tested and can't afford to pay for it.
Free vaccines for uninsured people are next — that funding will run out next week. After that, the vaccines themselves will still be covered by the government — for now — but the costs of administering them will no longer be billed to the federal program.
In another blow to the COVID-19 response, federal shipments of monoclonal antibody treatments to states — drugs designed to keep people infected with the coronavirus out of the hospital — were also slashed last week by 35%, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
The first real-world consequences of dwindling federal COVID-19 funds have started to be felt in recent days.
Coronavirus tests for uninsured patients are no longer free in some places. That's because the program that reimbursed clinics and hospitals for the testing, as well as for treating uninsured patients with COVID-19, stopped accepting claims last week "due to lack of sufficient funds." Some clinics have already started to turn away people without insurance who come to get tested and can't afford to pay for it.
Free vaccines for uninsured people are next — that funding will run out next week. After that, the vaccines themselves will still be covered by the government — for now — but the costs of administering them will no longer be billed to the federal program.
In another blow to the COVID-19 response, federal shipments of monoclonal antibody treatments to states — drugs designed to keep people infected with the coronavirus out of the hospital — were also slashed last week by 35%, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Free COVID tests and treatments no longer free for uninsured, as funding runs out
Posted from npr.org
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Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Some people bitch about the FREE vaccine & how they are worthless... but go ahead and get it. Others bitch about being ripped off. I'm confident there are some bitching about the government suspending so much money for the "worthless" shots.
For me... I got both shots... the booster... and just heard this a.m. that an additional booster is available for those over 50 if it has been 4 months since their last booster.
If I croak from the shot... you'll have a good time saying, "I told you so". Better get your 2nd booster before you have to pay for it.
..."Free vaccines for uninsured people are next — that funding will run out next week. After that, the vaccines themselves will still be covered by the government — for now — but the costs of administering them will no longer be billed to the federal program.
In another blow to the COVID-19 response, federal shipments of monoclonal antibody treatments to states — drugs designed to keep people infected with the coronavirus out of the hospital — were also slashed last week by 35%, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Biden administration officials such as Becerra warn that this is just the beginning. They've cited a long list of consequences — short and long term — as they plead with lawmakers to allocate $22.5 billion more for pandemic relief.
At the moment, that request for funding appears stalled in Congress. That has hospitals and public health experts worried that the U.S. will be poorly equipped to identify — let alone manage — whatever happens next with the pandemic."...
For me... I got both shots... the booster... and just heard this a.m. that an additional booster is available for those over 50 if it has been 4 months since their last booster.
If I croak from the shot... you'll have a good time saying, "I told you so". Better get your 2nd booster before you have to pay for it.
..."Free vaccines for uninsured people are next — that funding will run out next week. After that, the vaccines themselves will still be covered by the government — for now — but the costs of administering them will no longer be billed to the federal program.
In another blow to the COVID-19 response, federal shipments of monoclonal antibody treatments to states — drugs designed to keep people infected with the coronavirus out of the hospital — were also slashed last week by 35%, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Biden administration officials such as Becerra warn that this is just the beginning. They've cited a long list of consequences — short and long term — as they plead with lawmakers to allocate $22.5 billion more for pandemic relief.
At the moment, that request for funding appears stalled in Congress. That has hospitals and public health experts worried that the U.S. will be poorly equipped to identify — let alone manage — whatever happens next with the pandemic."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SGT (Join to see) As an Old ^ucker, I Love Free Stuff, I'm like My Father trying Samples in the Grocery Store!
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SGT (Join to see)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel I do the samples at Sam's Club... but I don't view it as free because I spend major $$$ there.
The gas is usually 20 cents a gal cheaper than the normal gas station... but I won't wait in line... didn't like the "hurry up and wait" in the military... & still don't. At my age I have more money than time... & I don't do any lines for 20 cents difference in price. Gas fluctuates around the $4.00 a gallon. I spend more on my horse & blind pony, in a month, than I do in gas for both our vehicles.
The gas is usually 20 cents a gal cheaper than the normal gas station... but I won't wait in line... didn't like the "hurry up and wait" in the military... & still don't. At my age I have more money than time... & I don't do any lines for 20 cents difference in price. Gas fluctuates around the $4.00 a gallon. I spend more on my horse & blind pony, in a month, than I do in gas for both our vehicles.
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Funding hasn't run out. I so dislike when the government plays games to get more of our money when they haven't even spent the money, they got the last time they gouged us:
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/there-is-still-plenty-of-money-left-from-past-covid-relief-bills/
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/there-is-still-plenty-of-money-left-from-past-covid-relief-bills/
There Is Still Plenty of Money Left from Past Covid-Relief Bills | National Review
Maybe we should spend that cash, get inflation under control, and start to balance our books before we talk about appropriating more money.
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