Pa’s largest community health center distributes 8,000 free rapid home COVID-19 tests to the community :: exploreClarion.com

CLARION, PA (EYT) – In just one month, the Primary Health Network (PHN), the largest community health center in Pennsylvania, has distributed more than 8,000 rapid home COVID-19 tests in their service areas.

Test kits were provided free to the community through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) COVID-19 Test Supply Program.

Across the country, many Americans are struggling to access COVID-19 testing amid the continued spike in cases driven by the Omicron variant. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in partnership with the Department of Defense, is now working with all HRSA-supported community health centers, such as the Primary Health Care Network, to expand access by distributing free self-tests to patients in health centers. and community members. PHN has also begun partnering with local community service agencies to distribute test kits, which will expedite the distribution process within our communities.

PHN’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. George Garrow, says, “PHN is honored and grateful to be the steward of HRSA’s COVID-19 testing supply program. The program aims to ensure that COVID-19 home self-tests are made available to health center patients and community populations in need of testing, particularly populations considered to be most at risk of adverse COVID-related outcomes. 19.

The Primary Health Network provides primary and specialty care services to more than 75,000 people each year in 16 counties in Pennsylvania and one in Ohio, including areas considered geographically isolated, medically underserved and vulnerable. According to HHS, two-thirds of the population served by community health centers live in poverty, 62% are racial and/or ethnic minorities, and nearly 1.3 million are homeless. Across the United States, these health centers work to ensure access to quality health care services and improve health outcomes for approximately 62 million Americans.

COVID-19 self-test kits will be replenished periodically, and as PHN receives additional shipments from HRSA, tests will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. To minimize potential exposure to COVID-19, PHN asks anyone interested in receiving a self-test kit to refrain from traveling directly to one of our locations. Instead, please call the centralized COVID-19 service at 724-699-9211, option 1.

For more information on the Primary Health Network and its services, please visit primary-health.net.

After more than 38 years of service, the Primary Health Network has become the largest FQHC in Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the nation. Last year, PHN reached more than 75,000 patients in 16 counties in Pennsylvania and one county in Ohio. PHN participates in most managed care plans, handles most insurance, and offers a variable fee discount to eligible patients.

This publication is published as part of the Federally Funded Primary Health Network Health Center Project. The Primary Health Care Network received $12,379,000.00 in federal assistance through the American Rescue Plan Act over a two-year project period, which is estimated to be 7% of project costs over the period. two years. Of the total project costs for this year, the Primary Health Network estimates that 85% will be funded by non-governmental sources.

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