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PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
March 20, 2020

Judith M. Persichilli
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Murphy Administration Announces Waiver of Fees for COVID-19 Testing Services For Uninsured

To ensure that individuals who are uninsured have access to testing for COVID-19, the Murphy Administration today required hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to waive patient fees for testing and related diagnostic services for those who lack health insurance.

 

In communication to the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Hospital Association and the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Primary Care Association, which includes 23 FQHCs with more than 120 satellite locations, ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said that the cost for testing and diagnosis should not be a barrier for any of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s residents.

 

“Every single ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏan with symptoms must have access to COVID-19 testing if we are going to end this crisis,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Waiving testing fees for the uninsured is a critical step in allowing us to prevent more ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏans from being infected and to identify those who already have been infected so they can get the care they need.”

 

“In order to remove barriers to testing for COVID-19, the Department of Health is issuing guidance today to hospitals and FQHCS to provide testing for COVID-19 to any resident of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ who is not currently insured and who is not eligible for Medicaid. The hospitals and the FQHCs should instead charge the State for these costs through existing Charity Care programs” said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli.

 

In the memo to the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Hospital Association, Commissioner Persichilli said hospitals will be able to submit claims for reimbursement to the charity care program, which provides subsidies to hospitals for care they provide to the uninsured. The FQHCs will be able to submit claims to the Uncompensated Care Fund.  

 

Follow the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Department of Health on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram @njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.