COVID-19 test price gouging is still a "significant problem," America's Health Insurance Plans said in a statement submitted to Congress.
The statement was submitted Feb. 2 for a House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce hearing targeting pandemic-era price gouging.
According to an AHIP survey of payers, more than half of out-of-network COVID-19 test providers charged over $185 per test, according to a news release. The average price was $130, and data continues to show price gouging has gotten worse as the pandemic progresses.
To battle price gouging, AHIP proposed legislation that allows payers to bill out-of-network COVID-19 test providers the median in-network rate for testing. The group also encouraged CDC and CMS to update ICD-10 and HCPCS billing codes for COVID-19 tests.
"Health insurance providers are committed to working with Congress to pass legislation that eliminates price gouging and sets a reasonable market-based pricing benchmark for out-of-network COVID-19 tests, allows for appropriate tracking of tests administered and makes OTC tests universally available," AHIP said.