Protecting members’ health through home test kits
Every year, we send thousands of home test kits to members who are managing diabetes and those at risk for chronic kidney disease or colorectal cancer. We plan to reach even more members in 2026.
Questions about the home test kit program?
Contact our test kit team.
What the program looks like
Engaging members in preventive care at home is the first step toward knowing what further testing or treatment may be needed. This year, we’re sending even more at-home test kits to members. The kits contain all the supplies members need and clear instructions on how to complete the tests. Automated follow-up phone calls to members will encourage them to complete their at-home testing. Test results will be shared with members’ doctors to coordinate any further testing or treatment that’s needed.
Helping members close care gaps
Consistent screenings — whether done at home or in a provider’s office — help detect risky abnormalities before larger problems like kidney disease and colorectal cancer emerge. Consider talking to your patients about the benefits of at-home test kits or schedule in-office testing for patients you know are overdue for these screenings. For some primary care providers, closing these care gaps can result in more robust quality incentive payments.
Questions?
See the FAQs below.
If you still have questions or concerns about any aspect of this program, email us at testkits@thehealthplan.com. Our team of nurses will quickly address your inquiry.
Instructional videos for members
We’ve developed video instructions to help members with the FOBT and EGFR kits. We’re including the links here for your reference.
Who is ordering tests for my patients?
As part of the administration of our at-home test kit initiative, you may see in a patients’ record that one or more of these tests are ordered by a physician you don’t recognize. For the program to work, all test kits must be ordered by a physician.
We’ve teamed up with Geisinger pathologist Michelle Pramick, MD, to serve as the ordering physician for administrative purposes only. You may see Dr. Pramick’s name on patient records or other reporting as the ordering provider.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Why are the kits being sent to my patients?
A. Geisinger Health Plan sends at-home testing kits to members who are non-compliant with completing a colorectal screening, diabetic kidney evaluation or diabetic A1c screening.
Q. Why is the ordering provider Dr. Pramick?
A. Dr. Pramick is listed as the ordering provider so we can meet our regulatory requirements that state we need to have an authorized provider for all lab orders.
Q. What if my patient has abnormal results? How will I find out?
A. All GHP members with an attributed provider will receive a copy of their patients’ results.
Q. What about follow-up care for abnormal results?
A. The quality nurse team does outreach to all GHP members with abnormal results and assists with scheduling follow-up care.
Q. What do I do if a patient brings a complete kit to us?
Q. Why is my patient receiving a bill for a test they didn’t order?
A. Medicare members may see a minimal cost-share upon completing urine, blood or A1c test kits. However, if they receive the member incentive for completing their screening, it should reduce or eliminate the cost-share completely. The FOBT kit does not have a cost-share and has no cost to members.
Q. Why didn’t my patient receive a reward?
A. The Medicare member rewards are as follows:
1. Diabetic kidney evaluation – Blood and urine test must both be complete and must have a diabetes diagnosis to receive a reward.
2. Diabetic A1c – Member must have a diabetes diagnosis to receive reward.
3. FIT kit – Member eligible for 3 colon cancer screening rewards (colonoscopy, Cologuard and FIT kit). Member will receive gift card for whichever is completed first.
If a member qualifies for one of these rewards and hasn’t received it, you or the member can call 888-342-8751.
Q. What if my patient needs a new kit?
A. You or the member can call 888-342-8751 to order a replacement test kit.
Q. What if my patient does not want to receive kits in the future?
A. You or the member can call 888-342-8751 and request to be removed from future mailings.
Q. Why are you sending multiple FOBT kits per year?
A. If a member does not send a test back to GHP and hasn’t completed a colorectal cancer screening, we may send them another kit in the fall to encourage them to complete it.
Q. My patient has colorectal cancer screening scheduled. Do they need to complete a FIT kit?
A. No, they only need to complete one screening. However, advise the patient to keep the FIT kit until they’ve had their colorectal cancer screening in case the screening is rescheduled or they’re unable to complete the scheduled screening.
Q. By when does my patient need to return their test kit?
A. Test kits can be sent back to Geisinger within the calendar year that we sent them to the member. We recommend that members return kits within 30 days of receipt.
