The United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) are funding a no-cost COVID-19 testing program called “Operation Expanded Testing.” Supplies for self-swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and implementation support for routine testing is available to long-term care facilities and homes through the regional contractor, PerkinElmer. PerkinElmer provides delivery of test kits, processing of tests at their labs, and a built-in system for reporting test results.

To qualify for this program, the long-term care facility or home must be located in a region with a high Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) (defined as 0.5 or higher.) The SVI for your region can be found by following this link to the CDC’s SVI Interactive Map. To use the site, zoom in to your general location on the map, click on the magnifying glass search icon in the upper right corner of the map and enter your facility or home address. A black box will pop up with the region’s SVI index. If it is 0.5 or higher, your facility is qualified.

Facilities can apply and find more information about the program at Home – Let’s End This Together

Letter is here.

Questions?

Contact:

Laura Hofmann, MSN, RN – Director of Clinical and Nursing Facility Regulatory Services
c: 425-231-4804