ALLEGAN COUNTY The Allegan County Health Department will be holding a series of free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing events in November. Since the first report of a cluster of cases of acute respiratory illness in China, the current coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has spread globally exacting a huge toll on individuals, families, communities, and societies across the world, resulting in a World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a pandemic 1, 2.The COVID-19 response has highlighted the need for a . Holly K. Hacker. You may continue to test positive on antigen tests for a few weeks after your initial positive. In August, the testing site relocated to Eastfield College in Mesquite. COVID-19 test, her result is negative. After Honu won the contract in Dallas, The News obtained a copy of the companys proposal, relevant work experience, references and other documents from the city through a public records request. This is definitely not a case I would categorize as standard, said department Assistant Secretary Kristin Peterson, who runs the Health Systems Quality Assurance program. The tribe has not used any more of the test kits, Fast Horse said. Some testing sites have arranged to work with laboratories to create patient portals that allow people who have been tested to look up their results online ( BioReference, LabCorp, Quest ). Dallas County COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Dallas County, as are hospitalizations across the state. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Effective August 28th, @Parkland will take over the site @eastfield_dc currently run by Hanu. The doctors then allegedly received a share of insurance reimbursements a kickback. A city spokeswoman said Honu was properly vetted as quickly as possible in what was a crisis. Im not saying that a company that fails on a contract should be avoided and basically blackballed from ever getting contracts again, but you have to be very careful, Moulton said. For additional. Since Honu started running the University of Dallas site, over 90% of test results have been turned around within 3 days, data provided by the county shows. After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time after. Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112. Would you like to proceed to legacy Twitter? Get immediate access to organizations and people in the DFW area that need your help or can provide help during the Coronavirus crisis. The contract with Hanu is being cancelled. Jenkins told county commissioners at their Tuesday meeting that the hospital would provide up to 250 tests per day, half of Honus volume. OakBend Medical Group The initial criteria for the COVID-19 testing will require a Telehealth visit. We want to get those results. She noted that theres a clause in the contract that allows for termination - but that hasnt been necessary. undefined mi away Get Directions Insurance information unknown Antibody, Antigen View Details Fast Track Immediate Care At a meeting Tuesday, county commissioners raised concern with lack of oversight. Honu initially gave three references as evidence it could manage the Dallas County testing site. In mid-June, Anderson vouched for Honu and told the city the company had tested more than 500 of his workers, according to notes from the citys phone call with Anderson. We are trying to expand testing as schools start back up to anyone who wants it, he said. But state DOH records allege that Thornton and DA Medical orchestrated the kickback scheme using a corrupt online pharmacy and by soliciting local doctors to write the prescriptions. In seeking a contractor, city officials bypassed the usual competitive bidding rules. Dallas County health officials are looking into why 7% of people tested positive at the site in July, compared to 17% at testing locations run by Parkland Hospital. of Health and Human Services and HONU . Does that mean Honu is free to operate, unregulated? Report a free NHS COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result Use this service to report the result from a free NHS rapid lateral flow test. The company won the contract after the county stopped using the federal government for testing because it was taking too long to get results. %PDF-1.5 % Honu first pitched its services to the city of Dallas in April, officials said. Testing is free and available for anyone 5 years or older with or without COVID-19 symptoms. KaiHonua. An agency spokesman did not return requests from The News on Tuesday seeking comment about the status of the contracts. %PDF-1.6 % Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers, COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guidance and Educational Resources, Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, https://dev.michigan.local/som/json?sc_device=json, State awards six contracts for COVID-19 vaccination to high-risk populations and settings across Michigan, Go to Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers, Direct Care Workers: Communications Toolkit, Go to COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guidance and Educational Resources, Go to Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, Go to COVID-19 Therapeutics Information Page, Shelters, transient communities, other vulnerable populations. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Indicate the Specimen Type/Source. He told county commissioners Tuesday that his office was still reviewing the citys contract to determine if Honu met the terms of the agreement. Augusta, GA. 3/1/2023. "All state contracts include clauses that allow for separation for cause or convenience," she said, "and MDHHS will carefully monitor Honus performance, including its timeliness, and take action if problems arise.". Previously Holly reported for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Ventura County (Calif.) Star and the Antioch (Calif.) Ledger Dispatch. "Because Honu has only conducted one testing event so far, its too soon to say how quickly their results are coming back as a general matter," Sutfin said, or to get a picture of the percentage of positive tests. Date of Birth. hbbd```b``d7X "c"Ac ;?H2x`sl The Texas Division of Emergency Management tapped the company in May as one of several to help process COVID-19 tests. Date and Time of Collection. *+c"(wLu&XvqGPxw"jxuy~U[%8I&2:(L j@QHH5B0$/^( But CareATCs president and chief operating officer, Scott Strickland, said the company utilized Honu for a very limited time and simply bought one iPad, some protective gear and 50 coronavirus test kits which have gone unused. Suite 2100 Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? At Eastfield, it took four or more days for 97% of the samples to be collected and analyzed, and then for results to be reported, county data show. . This week . ", "As this virus has continued to spread and adapt so have we as a company and community health service provider," Thornton wrote in an email message to the Free Press. For instance, Honu claimed it had experience providing testing for a Native American tribe in South Dakota. Honu CEO Devin Thornton could not be reached for comment Tuesday. FORT BEND COUNTY. "This is part of the state's efforts to bring vaccine into communities and to vaccinate as many Michiganders as possible. When Honu Management Group pitched itself to run a major coronavirus testing site for the city and county of Dallas, the company listed impressive experience. All COVID-19 testing is performed by Honu Management Group, a company contracted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide COVID-19 testing at clinics throughout. Honu edged out industry giant Quest Diagnostics and a local firm to land the contract to test thousands for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. COVID-19 vaccination data reporting has been discontinued on the Texas DSHS dashboard. Locations being considered for potential future HONU sites are Waimanalo, Waipahu, Wahiawa, Ewa, and Leeward Oahu. In Sanilac County, there were 2,762 total cases or 307 new. Honu Management Group, statewide, homebound; community mobile sites; neighborhood testing sites; seasonal agriculture; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $20,000,000. Please allow up to 30 days for DSHS to review and reply to your request. No appointments are needed, and those seeking assistance with test results can email Covid19Help@honumg.com or call 1-844-778-2455. City and county officials did not immediately respond to questions from The News on Tuesday about contract details. Dallas County, meanwhile, has not paid any portion of its contract, said Darryl Martin, the countys administrator. New Uvex Group jobs added daily. We currently have open cases against several podiatrists who worked with DA Medical Group, Peterson said. What was not clearly disclosed: the construction company owner also co-owns the lab that Honu used to test his workers -- the same lab that had partnered with Honu on other COVID-19 jobs. The Allegan County Health Department will hold drive-through events for residents to get tested for COVID-19 every Wednesday 1-7 p.m beginning Wednesday, Sept. 22. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson launched an audit into how Honu won the multi-million dollar contract after a number of concerns were reported, including an unusually low positivity rate of 7 percent at Honus test site compared to much higher rates at others, like 17 percent positivity at Parklands test site. The county also found that on average, it took residents 3.3 days to get their results from the University of Dallas. Nearly 13,000 COVID cases had been reported in St. Clair County, with 275 deaths and 3,936 active . in the DFW area that need your help or can provide help during By COVID-19 Bulletin: 08/19/20 Jencie Tomasek. Results . When she did get her results 10 days later, they were rejected, meaning the test was unable to determine whether she had coronavirus. If you have questions about the form, call DSHS at 512-776-7578. Public health officials have said that without a vaccine or another shutdown, testing and contact tracing are among the most important strategies local governments can adopt in order to stem the spread of the virus. The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information at a federal level about COVID-19 and our current pandemic. When youre in a crisis, this is a time when you go with only the most reliable companies and the companies you know are going to deliver.. Dallas County Commissioners used money from the federal CARES Act to pay Honu because it was taking too long for the federally-run site to get test results back. June 28, 2021 There are several variants of the virus circulating in our state, including the concerning Delta variant, and we know the vaccine is our best protection against COVID-19.". The state resumed work with NovaDX and has reported no issues since, but has not yet released its investigation report to The News. DALLAS - Dallas County is ending its contract with the company that runs one of the largest COVID-19 testing sites in North Texas. Eight billboards display photos from Weems archive along with English and Spanish messages about the virus, KERA reports. On Monday, it was 2,604. Healthcare is not something we take lightly. Were going to hold them to the contract if they cant do it.. In Dallas, Texas officials "paused" a $14 million testing contract with Honu Management, of Spokane Valley, after the company failed to meet its contract requirement to turn around test. I think its pretty crooked. If you are a new sender, please provide your contact information and a fax number. Honu also has an agreement with the Texas Division of Emergency Management to provide testing at numerous sites around the state, including one at Mountain View College in Dallas. People getting tested in Dallas are waiting longer to get their results, despite a 40 percent drop in people getting tested. Peterson points out that DA Medical and Devin Thornton are not the targets of the Department of Health's investigation, since the agency is only authorized to investigate licensed, medical professionals. Michigan residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visitMichigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE However, a e negativresult does note rulout COVID-19 and should not be used as he t sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions. Thornton told The News there was no kickback scheme. Honu is expected to ramp up its testing capability, and be able toperform anywhere from 1,000-4,000 tests statewide per day inplaceslikenursing homes andlong-term care facilities, adult foster care homes as well as prisons, jails and homeless shelters, food processing facilities and housing formigrant workers. 247 0 obj <>stream Honu Management Group started administering tests at Eastfield College in Mesquite earlier this month. Devin Thornton has told us that there was no kickback scheme and that his company was performing legitimate work for these other companies that they work with and it was someone elses wrongdoing, Hacker said. Patient ID Number. We continue to monitor Honus performance, Rubio said. Its unclear right now how much of the contract the city of Dallas had paid out. the Coronavirus crisis. In July, Washington state-based Honu began operating a county drive-through site at the University of Dallas in Irving. It moved this month to Eastfield College in Mesquite. The mega sites have a daily capacity of 1,000 and will operate until 4 p.m. each day. Holly works on the investigations team after many years covering education for The Dallas Morning News. MARQUETTE COVID-19 testing sites at several local sites have been announced. Less than two months after that story aired, Thornton and at least three other DA Medical Group employees formed a new company in January Honu and began soliciting and bidding on COVID-19 testing contracts across the country. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We will get residents fast,accurate results. The city said Honu is meeting the obligations of the contract, including turning around test results quickly. Holly works on the investigations team after many years covering education for The Dallas Morning News. Clinicas Mi Doctor and MD Kids Pediatrics, two Houston MD Medical Group clinics, offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing by appointment. The whistleblower suspected the doctors were making hundreds of thousands of dollars each year through the arrangement. hVO0WqhTulCJ40;;K@5LF$:U HT^ ^,b20A0 maVQIxRGM@Zn $/UL Allie has covered Texas politics since 2017 and written about everything from tax policy to child protection. Students need to be able to learn on their own in a distance learning environment, so their ability to self-regulate their learning in a distance learning environment . Dallas city officials said they followed proper vetting procedures. Thornton recently met with two News reporters and showed them around the University of Dallas testing site, where staff and contractors tested up to 500 people a day. Parkland Health and Hospital System will take over Honus testing sites at the end of the month. If the answer is yes, then state the date of initial filing, case name and court number, and jurisdiction. A new site will open at Westwood Mall, located at 3020 U.S. 41 West in Marquette Township, beginning Monday. "The vendor was not required to comment on events that were pending," Sutfin said. Honu has lived up to the contract terms.. About 15% of people tested there had to wait seven or more days from the. The newspaper reports the decision confirmed by a spokesman for Mayor Eric Johnson came after city and county officials began investigating Honu Management Groups performance and how it won the $14 million contract when it began running a drive through testing site July 1 in Irving. stay healthy! 2023 FOX Television Stations, Tarrant County Jail corporal killed in single-vehicle crash in Arlington, Rockwall-Heath coach resigns after school workout investigation, Things to do this weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth: March 3-5, Prosper man who shot neighbor's pit bull will not face charges, One charged in Lake Worth chase that injured 13-year-old sexual assault victim, more arrests expected, New street drug 'tranq dope,' rots skin, turns humans into 'zombies', 3 children killed, 2 hurt in Italy, Texas, Biden has cancerous skin lesion removed from chest, doctor says, Severe weather video and photos from around North Texas, Suspected North Texas scented candle thieves allegedly stole $27,774 worth of items. Or, for all other COVID-19 questions or concerns, call 88-217-3904, email covid@dhd10.org or visit www.dhd10.org/schedule.. KING 5s investigation revealed a three-year probe by the Washington State Department of Health that accuses Thornton and others at DA Medical of orchestrating a kickback scheme to bilk insurance companies. As KING 5 reported in November, three Seattle-area foot doctors are accused of over-prescribing medications and equipment to patients whose insurance companies were billed for the treatments. Effective August 28th, @Parkland will take over the site @eastfield_dc currently run by Hanu. In most cases, lab test results delivery times should not exceed two weeks. The decision less than two months after Honu began running drive-through testing for the city and county came after local officials began investigating the companys $14.6 million contract. It is able to provide test results in an average of 3.52 days. In the rush, some untested companies are winning work in Texas and across the country. The city says it promised a 72-hour test result turnaround time. Testing lets us know who is sick, but staying healthy is the best way to protect yourself. The number of active COVID cases has also continued to rise. Inflammation and problems with the immune system can also happen. "We welcome the audits as an opportunity to affirm who we are as a company.". Dr. Honu promised results within 72 hours. The second site run by the Texas Military Department Mobile Testing Team will be at the Eastside Sports. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus. After learning of the states investigation involving tests results from Honus lab partner, The News began looking into the company. Hours. Providing effective and efficient management services that assist healthcare facilities and organizations by providing cost-effective solutions to both patients and the healthcare system. They have secured multi-million dollar public contracts in Texas, Missouri, and Michigan. The state of Michigan recently signed a $42 million contract with Honu, which is expected to begin testing there within a few weeks. Were just looking for someone to get the job done, he said last week. Given the states prior issues with NovaDX, the city and county of Dallas asked Honu to work with a different lab. Example video title will go here for this video. CS202323007 Honu Management Group . The department has not issued any charges and the case remains open. Leaders of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, in South Dakota, told The News they bought 615 test kits from Honu in late April for more than $88,000. Experts say that current death counts are bound to be an undercount because of insufficient testing at the beginning of the pandemic. Both the city and county of Dallas have ended their contract with embattled Honu Management Group, which ran the largest public COVID-19 testing site, The Dallas Morning Newsreports.
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