Assisted Living Communities to Receive Free COVID-19 Testing Through Expanded CDC Program

McKnight’s Senior Living (8/8, Bonvissuto) reports, “Assisted living communities now have access to free COVID-19 testing through a federal program that previously targeted schools, shelters and correctional facilities.” The CDC’s “Operation Expanded Testing program provides no-cost polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, COVID-19 tests – including specimen collection supplies, shipping materials, laboratory testing and results reporting – to providers for use with staff members and residents.” Providers “can receive up to a four-week supply at a time, and there is no cap on the number of tests that may be requested, according to the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living.” More information on how to enroll an assisted living community into the OpET program is available on the CDC’s website.

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/7, Bonvissuto) also reports. https://www.mcknights.com/news/clinical-news/cdc-program-expands-free-covid-19-testing-to-assisted-living/

NYSHFA/NYSCAL CONTACTS:

Jackie Pappalardi, RN, BSN
Executive Director
518-462-4800 x16

Lisa Volk, RN, B.P.S., LNHA
Director, Clinical & Quality Services
518-462-4800 x15