HHS increasing testing supplies for nursing facilities and assisted living programs

After advocating to the federal government to increase the supply of test kits for nursing facilities and assisted living communities, AHCA/NCAL has learned that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be shipping an additional five million tests over the next five weeks.

The shipments will be in addition to the existing Abbott BinaxNOW shipments. The amount of test kits providers receive will be based on the COVID-19 prevalence in their county, as well as the number of residents and staff in their facility/community. These additional test kits will be the oral-pharyngeal 5M Celltrion point-of-care (POC) tests. These additional shipments are still meant to supplement existing demand and may not completely meet testing needs. Members are encouraged to continue outreach to their county health department and suppliers for additional testing supplies and to keep them apprised of the demand.

AHCA/NCAL will continue to advocate to the federal government for more facility test kits. ​Facilities and programs in Iowa that are experiencing testing supply shortages are reminded that the State Hygienic Lab (SHL) continues to maintain an adequate supply of PCR test kits that can be ordered here. The SHL has indicated that no rapid testing supplies are available for order.

For questions, contact Brenda Irlbeck, VP, Quality Improvement and Clinical Affairs, at 515-978-2204.