Final Medicare Payment for EsoGuard Test Is $1,938.01, Effective Since 2021
Key Facts
CMS previously set the final payment amount for the EsoGuard test at $1,938.01, effective Jan. 1, 2021, according to Lucid’s annual report filed with the SEC. This amount provides a historical basis for understanding the test’s reimbursement path, but it is not a new pricing decision issued in October 2026. At the Medicare advisory committee meeting on Sept. 16, 2026, code 0114U was among the codes for which the committee recommended retaining the original gapfill basis. The committee’s recommendation remains separate from the final decision issued by CMS. In its September disclosure, the company said it had begun submitting claims for its Texas laboratory under code 0114U, while linking claims for its California laboratory to the effective date of a revised local coverage determination.
Lucid’s quarterly report shows that EsoGuard generated revenue of $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, with 2,770 tests processed during the period. These figures provide a prior baseline for measuring the test’s commercial activity before assessing the impact of payments the company said it had begun receiving. The report does not specify the amount of future revenue tied to claims or the pace of collections. Nor does the historical final payment amount of $1,938.01 alone determine how many tests will be reimbursed or the revenue the company will record. The second-quarter figures therefore remain an indicator of prior activity, not an estimate of subsequent sales.
The company faces financial pressures documented in its report for the first half of the year. It recorded a net loss attributable to common shareholders of about $38.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2026, and used $23.4 million in cash in operating activities over the same period. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $33.4 million on June 30. Management said continued operations depend on generating significant revenue, obtaining favorable coverage and reimbursement from government and private insurers, and raising additional funding. It added that these factors raise substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the issuance of the financial statements.
On pricing, the Medicare committee in September recommended retaining the original gapfill basis for code 0114U, after including it among the codes covered by its recommendation at the Sept. 16 meeting. Lucid said CMS expected to issue final decisions in November, following a public comment period. CMS says annual final decisions on payment bases and amounts are generally issued by mid-November, with payment amounts taking effect for the following calendar year. The recommendation alone therefore does not mean the payment amount for next year is set; CMS issues the final decision. The November review remains the next scheduled milestone in the annual decision timetable.
In trading, LUCD shares closed at $0.3277 on Oct. 22, 2026, according to EL7 data. Nasdaq had notified the company on Oct. 12 that its closing bid price had remained below the $1-per-share minimum for 30 consecutive business days through Oct. 9. The exchange gave the company 180 calendar days, until April 12, 2027, to regain compliance. That requires the bid price to reach at least $1 for 10 consecutive business days. The notice sets a specific compliance deadline for the company as it continues to pursue Medicare reimbursement and address its funding needs.