CDC Promises Free Coronavirus Testing Thanks To Rep. Katie Porter

LAKE FOREST, CA —Capitol Hill's most notorious "questioner" had the director of the Centers for Disease Control in her sights this week. Rep. Katie Porter, of the 45th District, is a lawyer and former professor of law at UC Irvine. This week, she used her legal skills to hammer her point home with the CDC: every person in the country who has a need to be tested for new coronavirus should be able to do so without worry of financial consequence.

During a hearing with the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Porter implored CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield to allow for free testing for all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, she outlined the costs associated with being tested for COVID-19. Writing out the simple equation on her whiteboard, Porter line-itemed charges for a complete blood test, metabolic panel, flu test, emergency room visit, and isolation costs during a hospital stay.

All proved cost-prohibitive for the majority of under-insured and uninsured Americans. Her math—and it adds up, according to Redfield—was upwards of at least $1,331 per person. The added charges for a positive test and isolating a patient could cost upwards of $5,000.

We live in a world where an unexpected $400 can sink a family, according to Porter. Last year, 33 percent of Americans put off healthcare visits that they could not afford. No one can afford to let a person infected with COVID-19 to be left untested, she said.

"Do you want to know who has the coronavirus and who doesn't?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Not just rich people, but everyone who has the virus?" Porter asked.

"Yes. All of America," he responded.

She then outlined his authority to all who were listening, describing the code of the federal regulations that apply to the CDC the director, and how he "may authorize payment for the care and treatment of people subject to the medical exam, quarantine, isolation and conditional release."

Though he attempted to eschew the question stating they were "working on it," Porter would not let go of this issue.

"Dr. Redfield, I hope that that answer weighs heavily upon you because it is going to weigh heavily on me, and every American family," Porter said.

Porter launched into her research of his authority to give the go-ahead for free testing for all. Porter implored Redfield to publicly commit to using the authority that he has, under law, that provides "in a public health emergency" for costs to be waived for testing, treatment, the exam for coronavirus for the American people, allowing them to "come in and get tested," she said.

After about five minutes of questioning, Redfield agreed that the CDC has the responsibility to call for testing of all with out financial consequence to the patients, saying:

"My answer is YES."

"Do you hear that, America? You are eligible to go and get tested," Porter said.

In summation, Redfield added the importance of the public health crisis.

"Those individuals that are in the shadows can get the healthcare that they need during the time of us responding to this outbreak," he said.

Following the meeting, Porter shared the video of the exchange over her Facebook page on her legal research:

"The Administration has the authority to make testing free for every American TODAY," she wrote. "I secured a commitment from a high-level Trump official that they'd actually do it."

For now, patients in need of testing will need a recommendation from their physician. According to the Orange County Register, those recommendations will only come if a patient is in a high risk group. Uninsured patients can contact county health departments in the interim, they said. As of this report, the Register satted that insurers have agreed to cover the full cost of diagnostic tests to see whether people have the disease, but not treatment for those infected with coronavirus.