| Covid-19 | Jul 7, 2020

HHS Extends COVID-19 Testing Public-Private Partnership

HHS announced it is extending through August 2020 its partnership with CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Quest (through services at Walmart) and eTrueNorth (through services at Kroger, Health Mart, and Walmart) as part of the Community-Based Testing Program. The contract utilizes a federal bundled payment program paid directly to retailers that receive a flat fee for each test administered. To participate in the program, partners must ensure the availability of online and telephone registration and appointment scheduling; provide order and notification of result; on-site personnel and security; medical supplies and equipment; and lab testing (on-site or commercial lab) capabilities. This partnership accounts for 600 COVID-19 testing sites in 48 states and the District of Columbia. HHS has also made available an online tool, “Community-Based Testing Sites for COVID-19” (in Column K), for users to search for community-based testing sites in their community.