ACLA Statement on President Biden’s Actions to Combat COVID-19
Washington, D.C. – Following President Biden’s actions announced today to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, ACLA President Julie Khani released the following statement:
“We commend President Biden for taking a national, science-driven approach to combatting COVID-19. The actions announced today take important steps to expand access to supplies, help address racial disparities within the health system and give public health officials additional tools they need to combat this devastating virus.
On behalf of lab professionals across the country and the millions of patients we serve, we also applaud President Biden’s actions to expand access to accurate and reliable testing for all Americans.
Despite the widespread agreement that testing is a critical tool in our efforts to address the pandemic, in June, guidance from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury curtailed clear coverage mandates passed by Congress that required comprehensive health plans to cover COVID-19 testing without cost sharing or prior authorization. As multiple media investigations have since exposed, this created growing coverage gaps for many Americans.
Employees of nursing homes, restaurants and meatpacking facilities, first responders, students and teachers are all critical to our nation’s recovery and these groups need certainty that their tests will be covered. The actions taken by President Biden today to clarify requirements for insurers are an important step forward to meet that promise.
We look forward to working with the Biden Administration and the new Congress to ensure labs can help meet this challenging moment and deliver the testing our country needs, now and in the future.”
