Earlier this month, the press covered the results of a study that showed the HPV test being a better diagnostic tool than the Pap test for cervical cancer. The study, as mentioned in the press coverage, did not use the Thin Prep test commonly used in the United States, so the results may not be translatable to the US population. Nonetheless, people immediately started asking about payment for the HPV test.
First, most insurance companies cover the HPV test. Second, most state Medicaid programs cover the HPV test (see p.14 of the report). Next, the HPV test is only recommended once every three years and costs approximately $70. Lastly, Congress is planning to introduce a bill including coverage of the HPV test for Medicare beneficiaries (over 65). [p.s. that is my exciting news]
So anyway, I just wanted to share that information.