OK, a CBC typically costs about $36.
What about the out of pocket costs for a complete metabolic panel?
– Ma'am, I'd have to pass on that as well.
You have any idea? You want to take a ball park?
– I would say $75.
OK, $58. – Getting closer.
How about flu "A"? The flue "A" test.
– Ma'am again, I'd take a guess at about maybe $50.
$43. This is like the price is right. Flu "B"?
– Too high again. I would probably say $44.
That's good. How about the cost of and ER visit for somebody
identified as high severity and threat?
– I'm sorry, Ma'am. What was the question?
How about the cost of and ER visit for somebody
identified as having high severity or high threat?
– Ma'am, that's probably about $3,000–5,000.
OK, that is $1,151.
This all totals up to $1,331.
That's assuming they aren't kept in isolation.
Isolation can add up for one family already [to] $4,000
and fear of these costs are going to keep people from being tested,
from getting the care they need and from keeping their communities safe.
We live in a world where 40% of Americans cannot even afford
a $400 unexpected expense.
We live in a world where 33% of Americans put off
medical treatment last year.
And we have a $1,331 expense, conservatively, just for testing
for the coronavirus.
Dr Redfield, do you want to know who has the coronavirus and who doesn't?
– Yes.
Not just rich people but everybody who might have the virus?
– All of America.
Dr Redfield, will you commit to the CDC right now, using that existing authority,
to pay for diagnostic testing free to every American regardless of insurance.
– Well, I can say that we're going to do everything to make
– sure everybody can get the care they need.
No, not good enough. Reclaiming my time.
Dr Redfield, you have the existing authority.
Will you commit, right now, to using the authority that you have
vested in you under law, that provides in a public health emergency
for testing, treatment, exam, isolation without cost, yes or no?
– What I'm going to say is I'm going to review it in detail with CDC.
No. I'm reclaiming my time.
Dr Redfield, respectfully, I wrote you this letter along with my colleagues
Rosa Delauro and Lauren Underwood –
Congreesman Underwood and Congressman Delauro.
We wrote you this letter one week ago.
We quoted that existing authority to you and we laid out this problem.
We asked for a response yesterday.
The deadline and time for delay has passed.
Will you commit to invoking your existing authority under 42CFR71.30
to provide for coronavirus testing for every American
regardless of insurance coverage.
– What I was trying to say is that CDC is working with HSS now
– to see how we operationalise that.
Dr Redfield, I hope that that answer weighs heavily on you
because it is going to weigh very heavily on me
and on every American family.
– Our intent is to make sure every American gets the care
– and treatment they need at this time of this major epidemic
– and I am currently working with HHS to see how to best operationalise it.
Dr Redfield, you don't need to do any work to operationalise.
You need to make a commitment to the American people
so they come in to get tested.
You can operationalise the payment structure tomorrow.
– I think you're an excellent questioner, so my answer is yes.
Excellent. Everybody in America hear that.
You are eligible to go get tested for coronavirus and have that covered,
regardless of insurance.
Please, if you believe you have the illness, follow precautions,
call first, do everything the CDC and Dr Fauci god bless you
for guiding Americans in this time but do not let a lack of insurance
worsen this crisis.