Expanding Seniors’ Access to PFAS Testing Act
This bill, the Expanding Seniors' Access to PFAS Testing Act, would extend Medicare coverage so that PFAS testing is provided at no out-of-pocket cost to beneficiaries. Specifically, it adds PFAS testing (a physician-ordered blood test to measure concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to the list of covered preventive services and ensures that Medicare pays for PFAS testing in full. Starting January 1, 2028, beneficiaries would pay no cost-sharing for PFAS testing, with Medicare paying 100% of the lesser of the test’s actual charge or the applicable fee schedule amount for preventive services. In short, the bill aims to remove cost barriers for older adults and certain disabled individuals who need PFAS testing, shifting the payment responsibility to Medicare and tying reimbursement to existing preventive-care payment rules.
Key Points
- 1PFAS testing defined: PFAS testing means a blood test ordered by a physician to determine the concentration of PFAS chemicals in the body.
- 2Coverage addition: PFAS testing would be added to Medicare’s covered services under the general preventive services framework (no-cost-sharing applies).
- 3No-cost-sharing date: For PFAS testing performed on or after January 1, 2028, beneficiaries would not share in the cost.
- 4Payment mechanism: Medicare would pay 100% of the lesser of the actual charge for testing or the amount determined under the fee schedule that applies to the screening and preventive services described in the preventive-services section.
- 5Placement in law: The bill amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to implement these changes, and designates the act as the Expanding Seniors' Access to PFAS Testing Act.