Coronavirus Testing Costs Waived In Georgia

GEORGIA — Georgia health care providers will be required to test people for the new coronavirus regardless of their health insurance status or ability to pay, according to a directive issued Monday by Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King.

The directive to insurance companies across the state encourages them to take proactive steps to better provide access to care for their customers while dealing with coronavirus.

“Now that there have been confirmed cases of coronavirus in Georgia, it is essential that we are doing everything we can to remove any potential barriers to care for our citizens,” King said. “The directive we issued this morning is meant to ensure that no Georgian is denied access to testing or treatment for this disease.”

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The directive calls on insurers to waive cost-sharing for in-network provider office, urgent care center, or emergency room visits when testing for COVID-19, particularly for those individuals with high deductible plans.

It instructs insurers to verify their provider networks are adequate to handle a potential increase in volume of COVID-19 cases and calls on them to provide access to out-of-network providers at an in-network rate if they are not.

See the directive from the Office of the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

More Potential GA Coronavirus Cases Brings Total To 7

The Georgia Department of Public Health is awaiting confirmatory testing on the four new presumptive positive tests for COVID-19 in the Georgia residents. Testing was completed Sunday at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory and the results have been submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for verification.

One person is from Fulton County, another person is from Cherokee County, and the other two individuals are from Cobb County, but they have no connection to each other. All the individuals are hospitalized, and the sources of their infections are not known, the Georgia Department of Public Health.

With the addition of these four presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, there are now seven presumptive positives pending confirmatory testing by CDC and six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia.

The most recent confirmed cases were in Cobb, Fulton and Floyd counties, while a sixth case in Gwinnett County is presumed positive for the respiratory disease, but still awaiting confirmation.

Globally, more than 111,000 people have been infected and nearly 3,900 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Monday morning. Of that total, more than 80,000 confirmed cases are in China, while the entire United States has 566 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. There have been 22 deaths in the U.S. have been tied to the virus outbreak.

A total of 34 Georgians and other Americans aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship currently quarantined off the coast of California due to the new coronavirus will be transferred to an airbase in Marietta, Georgia, according to Gov. Brian Kemp.

"These passengers will undergo testing and be quarantined for possible exposure to COVID-19, Kemp said in a statement released on Sunday. "They are expected to arrive at Dobbins late Monday, March 9 or early Tuesday, March 10."

The Dobbins Air Reserve Base is located at 1291 Cobb Parkway, which is some 20 miles northwest of Atlanta.

There is no evidence of community spread of coronavirus in Georgia at this time, health officials said.

Read More:

• 3rd Possible Coronavirus Case Is Woman Turned Away From Hospital
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Prevent the Spread of Illness

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the best way to prevent infection with any respiratory virus is to use the same preventive strategies used during a normal cold and flu season:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

"If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and you develop fever with cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider or local health department right away," the Department of Public Health said. "Be sure to call before going to a doctor's office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and symptoms."

For information about COVID-19, visit the Department of Public Health or CDC.