Clarification of COVID-19 Testing

As students head back to school and employees move back into offices, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is clarifying our coverage of COVID-19 testing. BCBSKS will continue to cover the cost of, with no charge to the member, diagnostic testing services which:

• Meet primary coverage criteria for COVID-19 as defined by the CDC and CMS public health service response.
• Are determined necessary by the member’s healthcare provider in situations where it is not covered as part of the public health service response.

As outlined in Question 5 of the Frequently Asked Questions About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act – BCBSKS will NOT cover the cost of testing that is conducted to screen for:

• General school or workplace health and safety.
• Public health surveillance for SARS-CoV-2.
• Any other purpose not primarily intended for individualized diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19 is not covered.

Note: Testing performed for these situations should not be billed to BCBSKS.

Source: https://www.bcbsks.com/CustomerService/Providers/Publications/professional/newsletters/2020/S-8-20.pdf