Increased same-day coronavirus lab testing proposed in new Bucshon bill

U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) on Feb. 3 unveiled a bipartisan bill to increase COVID-19 testing capacity at laboratories across the United States. 

“Until COVID-19 vaccines are widely distributed, and enough Americans have been vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, the key to staying ahead of the virus and keeping Americans safe, reopening the economy, and limiting the spread of the virus is to continue expanding our nation’s ability to rapidly test and isolate potential new cases,” Rep. Bucshon said.

The Access to Technology and Equipment for Same-day Tests (Access to TESTs) Act, H.R. 747, was introduced by Rep. Bucshon with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). It would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants for acquiring equipment and supplies capable of performing same-day clinical lab testing in a point-of-care setting, and to assist laboratories in meeting the cost of acquiring high-throughput equipment, according to the text of the bill.

“The American people are counting on us to ensure our hospitals and public health labs have the equipment they need in order to meet the demands of not only the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but any future disease outbreaks that may occur,” said the congressman.

Specifically, H.R. 747 would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide grants to regional, state and local public health labs to purchase new diagnostic testing platforms that can process thousands of COVID-19 tests at one time, according to information provided by the congressman’s staff.

“While our country’s COVID-19 diagnostic testing capabilities and capacity have increased over time during the pandemic, I continue to hear from Hoosiers in the Eighth District of Indiana that the turnaround times for their results take too long and some continue to have difficulty accessing a rapid response test,” Rep. Bucshon said.  

H.R. 747 also would make grants available to hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers to provide same-day testing to those living in rural and underserved areas of the country, the information states.

The measure has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.