The Stonecrest, Ga. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church postponed its drive-thru COVID-19 testing, citing compliance with state Gov. Brian Kemp’s shelter-in-place mandate.
The megachurch originally planned to test 1,000 people on its campus for $125 each in partnership with Texas-based RoweDocs. If done, they would have cashed in $125,000.
But isn’t coronavirus testing supposed to be free?
Yes, COVID-19 testing is free for all Americans. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires private and federal insurance to pay for FDA-approved testing with no cost-sharing, including drive-thru testing. The recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act extends this coverage to include testing not yet approved by the FDA in order to broaden access. Source: GoodRX.com
Provisions have been made for Americans to receive testing for FREE according to H.R. 6201, known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Medicare and Medicaid recipients, and both the insured and uninsured are covered for cost-free testing under the FFCRA.
A number of sites across Atlanta are offering free COVID-19 testing, including Georgia Tech’s Midtown Atlanta location and CVS Health. So why is a megachurch — which should be among the most charitable of establishments — not on the same page as these other testing providers? It should be considered reprehensible for any organization to take advantage of its community in light of this pandemic.
To the church’s merit, they are now offering free groceries to those in need.
You can read H.R. 6201 for yourself here.
