March 14, 2020 — A bill introduced by 8th District Representative Dr. Kim Schrier is part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act package making its way through Congress.
According to a press release, the No Cost for COVID-19 Testing Act codifies the promises made by insurers to cover COVID-19 at no cost to patients and fills potential gaps in coverage for people in self-insured plans. The act would create a uniform, federally required standard that all insurers cover the full cost of testing.
The response package, which passed through the House of Representatives Saturday morning, also includes another of Schrier’s bills. The MEALs Act would provide states like Washington greater flexibility to administer child nutrition programs, similar to summer feeding programs.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed through the House of Representatives Saturday morning. It will move next to the Senate, where it will not be able to be taken up until at least Monday after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent senators home for the weekend. President Trump said over the weekend that he approves of the bill.
