Federal funding for COVID-19 tests, treatment for uninsured runs out, but local sites say they'll still provide help – Desert Sun

The federal government is no longer covering the cost of COVID-19 tests and treatments for uninsured Americans, and soon vaccines will also be affected, unless additional funding is secured. But many local health organizations say they will still provide services to those without insurance.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides claims reimbursement to health care providers generally at Medicare rates for testing, treating and administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured individuals. A separate program, the HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund, is available to reimburse providers for COVID-19 vaccine administration to underinsured individuals whose health plan either does not include COVID-19 vaccination as a covered benefit or covers COVID-19 vaccine administration but with cost-sharing.

But the program stopped accepting claims submitted after 11:59 p.m. Tuesday for COVID-19 testing or treatment “due to lack of sufficient funds,” according to the HRSA website. At 11:59 p.m. EST on April 5, the Uninsured Program will also stop accepting vaccination claims.

The HRSA Uninsured Program was funded by COVID-19 related legislation, such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The White House on March 2 asked Congress for another $22.5 billion for testing, vaccines and treatments.

The cost of a COVID-19 test varies depending on the type. Most pharmacies have provided no-cost PCR tests to those with or without insurance. The cost of a voluntary PCR COVID-19 test — one that is not covered by insurance — at CVS is $139, which includes $39 for services provided by MinuteClinic or CVS Pharmacy and $100 for the lab services, according to the retail pharmacy’s website.

Desert Healthcare District and Foundation CEO Dr. Conrado Bárzaga said at Tuesday’s board meeting the change is “worrisome” and will “have an impact on our population.” 

Related: COVID-19: Coachella Valley sees slight increase in cases as BA.2 variant spreads across U.S.

More: As COVID-19 cases drop and masks come off, Riverside County vaccination, booster rates lag

About 15% of Coachella Valley adults ages 19 to 64 are uninsured, a rate considerably higher than the state (10.7%) and nation (12.4%), according to a community health needs assessment report commissioned by the district.

The highest rates of uninsured working-age adults live in Oasis (31.9%), Indio Hills (31.9%), Thermal (30.3%) and Garnet (30.3%). The areas with the highest percentages of employed adults without insurance include Indio Hills (62.1%), Thermal (35.9%) and Sky Valley (31.6%). The report states Oasis and Thermal are home to “many immigrants who may not be eligible for governmental health insurance or may be unaware of the need for health insurance in the American system.”

Bárzaga said the Desert Healthcare District — a local government agency whose goal is to help Coachella Valley residents receive health care resources, housing, food and other services — has done “significant work in addressing the gaps in access for traditionally underserved, underrepresented communities” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not having the federal funding available could “hinder the results that we have seen,” he added. 

In Riverside County, 61% of residents ages 5 and older are fully vaccinated and another 6.8% are partially vaccinated. About 31% of the population ages 12 and older has received an additional/booster shot. 

In the Coachella Valley, vaccination rates are higher than in the county overall. About 80% of people 5 and older population have received two shots of Pfizer/Moderna or one shot of Johnson & Johnson.

If no additional funding is secured before the April 5 expiration date for vaccination claims, that could hurt efforts to increase inoculation rates, which have already been a struggle in recent weeks. 

But many local organizations have said the uninsured will still be able to receive no- or low-cost services.

Luz Gallegos, executive director of legal center and advocacy group TODEC, said “we are continuing to provide free testing to continue with our prevention work and to continue to save the lives of our vulnerable community that does not have access to privileges regardless of recent HRSA updates.”

Gallegos said TODEC, which works primarily with immigrant families, will fundraise and utilize unrestricted funding in order to provide the services at no-cost to the community.

Borrego Health, which has a number of facilities throughout the Coachella Valley, “has always and will continue to provide medical services to patients regardless of ability to pay,” according to a statement from spokesperson Dan Kramer. 

“As a Federally Qualified Health Center, our Customer Care advisors will assist patients in application for Medi-Cal or other health care insurance programs,” Kramer continued. “If a patient is unable or unwilling to apply for a governmental program, patients can enroll in our sliding fee scale program which establishes a nominal fee for any medical or dental visit based on federal poverty levels.”

DAP Health, an advocacy-based health care organization, does not charge patients for COVID-19 testing or vaccinations. The recent change regarding accepting and reimbursing claims “will have no impact on our care of the uninsured,” said Steven Henke, director of brand marketing.

Patients presenting symptoms are tested for COVID-19 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. Spokesperson Todd Burke said in a statement: “We treat anyone who presents at our emergency rooms regardless of their ability to pay. As with all patients, we will continue to run those tests necessary for clinical treatment regardless of payor source.”

At Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, the hospital will “still provide COVID-19 testing and treatments to the uninsured and bill them under our current uninsured/self-pay billing policies and procedures,” said spokesperson Lee Rice in a statement.

There were no details available from CVS regarding the change, according to spokesperson Monica Prinzing.

Read more: Should you report your at-home COVID-19 test results? Here’s what state public health says

The federal government is still providing free at-home COVID-19 tests to every household in the United States. U.S. households can place a total of two separate orders for rapid tests, four tests per order. If an order was previously placed, a second can be made now. Visit https://www.covidtests.gov/ for more information.

Ema Sasic covers health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.