AHCA/NCAL: Update on HHS’ Abbott BinaxNOW Test Kit Program

Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities continue to receive or are eligible to receive free monthly shipments of Abbott BinaxNOW over the counter (OTC) COVID-19 test kits from the department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This program, which has been in place since 2020, will continue through at least the end of 2023. As a reminder, facilities/communities must have an active CLIA waiver to be eligible to participate in this program.

Shipments can be started and stopped, and test quantities can be increased or decreased by emailing Binax.team@hhs.gov. The email must include: 

• Name of the facility 
• Facility address  
• CLIA waiver number 
• Request (stop, start, increase, decrease)

Please note, it may take a week or two to update the shipping information.  

If you have an influx of test kits and aren’t sure how to use them, keep in mind that since the tests are OTC, you can provide them to visitors, staff, or residents for their personal use as well. All tests that have been shipped to long term care facilities have expiration dates in December or January. The exact expiration dates for the tests can be found on the FDA website.

For questions related to the HHS BinaxNOW distribution Program, please email Binax.team@hhs.gov.

NYSHFA | NYSCAL CONTACTS:

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

Tarrah Quinlan, RN, BSN
Director of Education Program Development and Member Operations
518-462-4800 x20