Health Care — Free COVID tests are back

Presented by Prevent Cancer Foundation — The Biden administration has relaunched its program sending free COVID-19 tests in the mail.

View Online Health Care Health Care PRESENTED BY PREVENT CANCER FOUNDATION The Big Story  Free COVID tests are back   The Biden administration relaunched its program sending free COVID-19 tests in the mail. Every household will be able to order four tests from covidtests.gov through the end of 2024. Alix Martichoux / Nexstar The move comes ahead of the typical fall and winter respiratory virus season, though a summer surge of infections has begun to fade.    This is the seventh time over the past three years the administration has made free tests available for all Americans.   The program has delivered more than 900 million free tests directly to American households since it started in the winter of 2021, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.    Health insurers no longer cover over-the-counter tests, which can cost about $10 or $11 per test at most pharmacies.      The tests give results within 30 minutes and can detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants. They also include clear instructions on how to verify the extended expiration dates. Consumers are encouraged to check the Food and Drug Administration's website to find the updated expiration information.     The announcement comes as the administration is trying to encourage people to get the updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.     The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and the updated flu vaccine.   Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Kentucky sues Express Scripts, alleging it helped fuel state's opioid crisis Kentucky's attorney general is suing the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) Express Scripts over its role in "worsening" the state's opioid crisis.  In the complaint filed in state court, Attorney General Russell Coleman (R) argued Espress Scripts "is at the center of" the opioid dispensing chain that helped fuel the crisis.  Coleman claimed the company and its affiliates colluded with manufacturers in deceptive marketing …  Full Story McConnell: Harris-backed filibuster rule change would 'turn America into California' Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Thursday warned that if Democrats follow through on Vice President Harris's pledge to eliminate the filibuster to codify abortion protections, it would "turn America into California" by unleashing a flood of liberal reforms. He said Democrats would expand the Supreme Court once they eliminated the 60-vote threshold for passing legislation through the Senate, noting liberals’ …  Full Story Democrats call for DOJ intervention in Boar's Head listeria outbreak Two Democrats are urging the Department of Justice to get involved with the fallout of a nationwide listeria outbreak linked to a Boar's Head plant.  Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) asked the Department of Agriculture to work closely with the DOJ to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Boar's Head for its responsibility in the outbreak, which has caused 10 deaths and …  Full Story A MESSAGE FROM PREVENT CANCER FOUNDATION It's Time to Pass Medicare Multi-Cancer Screening Legislation, Now! Congress, you made saving lives a priority. We have majority, bipartisan support in the House & Senate. Over 500 groups are waiting. The time is now. Let's finish the job. Pass Medicare Multi-Cancer Screening Legislation. Learn more.  Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Her state bans gender-affirming care for teenagers. So she travels 450 miles for it (NPR)  State officially seizes St. Elizabeth's hospital, patients to see no care disruption (WBUR)  Texas maternal mortality committee asks to review abortion-related deaths (The Texas Tribune)  What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Acadia healthcare says it faces new federal investigations (The New York Times)   Four more health care workers reported illnesses after working after caring for bird flu case in Missouri (STAT)  A few rural towns are bucking the trend and building new hospitals (KFF News)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Harris narrowly beating Trump in 6 key battleground states: Polling Vice President Harris is narrowly leading former President Trump in six critical battleground states, while the candidates are tied in Georgia, according … Read more Amanpour: Melania Trump's 'mainstream media' remark is 'dangerous' CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour is chastising former first lady Melania Trump over comments she made attacking the mainstream media in a recent interview. … Read more   You're all caught up. See you next week!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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