The nonprofit health network, which operates Saranac Lake’s Adirondack Medical Center, Lake Placid’s Health and Medical Fitness Center and a nursing home in Tupper Lake, announced the change on Aug. 5, aligning its policies with guidance from the state Department of Health.

Individual hospitals and health systems can set their own testing requirements in regions of New York state with positivity rates lower than 2%, according to a news release from Adirondack Health. However, the North Country regional positivity rate had increased to 2.4%, as of Wednesday, Aug. 4, meaning the hospital was required to change its testing rules.

In most cases, patients’ insurance providers should cover COVID-19 testing if they’re sick and get a doctor’s order. Otherwise, patients will be responsible for the cost of any test performed, as well as any associated co-pays or deductibles, if they don’t have a specific doctor’s order, according to Adirondack Health.

AMC’s COVID clinic is still open. Drive-up testing — both PCR and antibody tests — is available there every day between 8 and 11 a.m. Testing is also available noon to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Appointments and preregistrations are still required. To schedule a COVID-19 test, call AMC’s COVID clinic at 518-897-2462.