35 We currently have open cases against several podiatrists who worked with DA Medical Group, Peterson said. COVID-19 Testing at UTEP - University of Texas at El Paso Through this initiative, 66 churches throughout the Metro Detroit area became COVID-19 vaccine . "We have encountered and overcome challenges along the way.". ;Y|V[]G/yvr~$ctyi?H4QCeSVW9C]eAQgCma* COVID-19 test, her result is negative. State signs $42M contract with COVID-19 testing company under scrutiny 216 0 obj <> endobj The company, he said, is conducting COVID-19 tests for both the city and county of Dallas as well as other communities in Texas and Missouri, and, as of Friday, had conducted 80,000 tests at more than 70 sites. All rights reserved, sharing an article from The Dallas Morning News, hat an internal investigation by the Dallas County health department revealed, 3 Children Killed, 2 Wounded in Ellis County Home; 1 in Custody: Sheriff, Actor Tom Sizemore, of Saving Private Ryan,' Dies at 61. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, How Dallas missed potential red flags in picking a company to run a major COVID-19 testing site, Connect with needs and opportunities from. "Providing mobile and other community-based vaccination services will help ensure high-risk individuals have access to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. Recovery Mobile Clinic, Regions 9 and 10, community mobile sites; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $1,400,000. List: Where to get tested for COVID-19 on Oahu The second omicron variant comes into focus. Introduction. They have secured multi-million dollar public contracts in Texas, Missouri, and Michigan. 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 has lived up to the contract terms.. Local photographer and artist Carrie Mae Weems has partnered with several cultural institutions in North Texas to launch a campaign to raise awareness about high infection rates in Black, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American communities. 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. A new internal report by Dallas County's health department obtained by The News found that wait times for results from local Honu sites have increased markedly. 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. 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. Fauci says if you dont get your results back within five days, it really becomes less valuable to contact trace, Jenkins said. The city says it promised a 72-hour test result turnaround time. The Washington State Department of Health acknowledges that the investigation linked to DA Medical is taking longer than usual, calling it a complex kickback case that involves several medical providers. %%EOF Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons (HONU) - Hawaii Click here to read more from our partners at The Dallas Morning News. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? The doctors then allegedly received a share of insurance reimbursements a kickback. Get Results with . Around the same time, the federal government began threatening to pull its support from two major drive-through sites where city and county residents could get tested for free. The county looked at more than 12,000 test results from Honu sites in the Dallas area over six weeks in July and August. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In the last week, Honu alsoconducted coronavirus testing atHealthSource Saginaw, Sutfin said. EN. As new company prepares testing push in tri-county, local officials Thornton said that once notified of the issue, DA Medical did its own investigation, fired the pharmacy it had worked with, and is cooperating with state investigators. 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. PDF Welcome and Introductions Dallas, Texas 75201. In seeking a contractor, city officials bypassed the usual competitive bidding rules. We asked around if the residents have any complaints about their city, they said, "there is none!" Bidders could offer statewide or regional services based onState of Michigan Prosperity Regionsand six site or setting types were included in the RFP including: The following bidders have been awarded two-year contracts to provide the following services: The total value of the contracts will be based on actual usage/need based on site type and actual number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered. But last week, Dallas County canceled its contract with Honu for COVID-19 testing because officials said test results were taking as long asseven days to come back. getting your covid-19 test results - Washtenaw Honu began seeking publicly-funded testing contracts in the emerging world of COVID-19, stating the company could setup operations and deliver results faster than competitive bidders. COVID-19 testing is conducted by private vendor Honu on behalf of the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the city of Longview and Gregg County Emergency Management on Thursday, July 23 . Were just looking for someone to get the job done, he said last week. Inflammation and problems with the immune system can also happen. Get immediate access to organizations and people Nearly 13,000 COVID cases had been reported in St. Clair County, with 275 deaths and 3,936 active . To date, more than 61% of Michigan residents have received at least their first dose of vaccine and we continue to urge everyone who is eligible to get theirs as soon as possible. HHS-OIG general policy is to neither confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, Health and Human Services spokesperson Yvonne Gamble wrote in an email reply to KING 5s question about whether its investigators will take action. 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. Ive always run the company kind of as a charity, Thornton said. 1023 0 obj <> endobj Direct Patient lines are open: 8:30am to 7:00pm Monday through Friday 8:30am - Noon on Saturdays. Honu was the only company that fit the bill out of about a dozen the city had approached, according to city officials. The city and county of Dallas end their $14 million contract with Honu Management Group, who ran COVID-19 testing sites. Download File. A spokesman for Mayor Eric Johnson confirmed the change. The company is using California-based Nova DX to process its tests. Dr. Get the latest coronavirus and public health updates. Thornton told the Free Press the tests the company is using, PCR nasopharyngeal and PCR saliva-based testing, can detect SARS-COV-2at least 95% of the time. 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. It isn't clear how long these effects might last. Thornton said the application shouldnt have said that and it has been taken off all of Honus subsequent proposals. For questions about test results, call Honu at 866-809-8282. HONU Management Group and Ann Arbor Public Schools. It made us ask more questions about just who is this company? Hacker said. Washington state-based Honu Management Group also may have overstated the scope of its work when it negotiated itsDallas coronavirus testing contract,and claimedto have White House approval it did not have, according to a Dallas Morning News investigation. Honu CEO Devin Thornton could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Honu won the contract through a competitive bidding process run through the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget, Sutfin said. COVID-19 Testing/Direct Patient Lines - Georgia Department of Public Health DALLAS A Washington state-based company is drawing increasing scrutiny as it secures publicly-funded COVID-19 testing contracts across the county. The companys effectiveness will be critical in stemming the viruss spread because fast and reliable test results are key to isolating sick people and tracking down others who may have been infected. Patient ID Number. Example video title will go here for this video. Honus CEO said the company was truthful in the application. New Uvex Group jobs added daily. There was tremendous increase in the number of cases of mucormycosis among patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the second wave of pandemic in South Asian countries. 3/1/2023. To make an appointment for a COVID test, call: 325-430-7603 or 325-643-3793. Honu also answered questions from the countys health department about their testing capabilities, she 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. Once the site moved to Eastfield College in August, that time jumped to 6.1 days. ABC House tests all 36 staff every Monday. 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 News reports. Sutfin said the state "closely monitors lab turnaround time and will do so in this case as well, as testing with Honu ramps up.". He has previously defended his companys testing work and said his goal is to help patients while keeping health care costs low. We would not be in a position to make any announcements about the company itself, said Peterson, because Honu and DA Medical are not licensed healthcare facilities. endstream endobj 217 0 obj <>/Metadata 8 0 R/Pages 214 0 R/StructTreeRoot 13 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 218 0 obj <. The city of Dallas has paid Honu $1 million, according to the citys public check register. Jenkins told county commissioners at their Tuesday meeting that the hospital would provide up to 250 tests per day, half of Honus volume. It was interesting. If you test positive for the coronavirus, DHD#10 will notify you via text and will ask you to fill out a survey so case investigations and contact tracing can begin. Thornton did answer questions from the Dallas Morning News. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? 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. Mr. Beck is newly admitted to ABC House and consents to a COVID-19 test, his result is positive. How to Turn $55,000 a Year into Financial Freedom: Tips, Tricks, and It took a steep $1.4 billion loss over the first three months of the year as the omicron variant of COVID-19 kept travel demand low. 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. Thornton told The News there was no kickback scheme. Testing for a national healthcare company. . When she did get her results 10 days later, they were rejected, meaning the test was unable to determine whether she had coronavirus. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Stay informed with a detailed weekly report on DFWs evolving healthcare industry. The newspaper reports the decision confirmed by a spokesman for Mayor Eric Johnson came after city and county officials began investigating Honu Management Group's performance and how it. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Parkland has played a role in public testing, usually working with other agencies, including the federal government. Vice President, Public Sector Sales and Business Development - San Devin Thornton,CEO and founder of Honu Management Group, said the company doesn't take its contract with Michigan lightlyand hasworked with the state for the lastmonth "to plan for a successful launch. The company offered Ed Anderson, the owner of an El Paso construction company. A day after powerful thunderstorms, North Texas surveys the damage, 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home; suspect in custody, How a Texas districts reaction to school shooting fears highlights discipline concerns, Carrollton man advertised pills on social media to entice teens to buy fentanyl, feds say. Parkland Health & Hospital System will take over one of Dallas Countys largest public coronavirus testing sites as the current contractor faces growing scrutiny over delayed test results. Hundreds line up for COVID-19 antigen testing at Port Huron Schools pop GM helps Detroit homeless charity with COVID-19 screeners COVID-19 Rapid Response Team Guidance | CDC Now, Parkland Hospital will operate testing at the Eastfield College site, which Honu used to run. Department of Health records show that the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is aware of the investigation into DA Medical Group. Please write in "COVID-19 under the TEST REQUESTED section. 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. People who had severe illness with COVID-19 might experience organ damage affecting the heart, kidneys, skin and brain. In May, the city asked Honu for additional references to show the company could handle a bigger job, Thornton said. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dallas city officials noted that DA Medical and Thornton have not been charged with any crimes. I dont understand. A city spokeswoman said Honu was properly vetted as quickly as possible in what was a crisis. 1054 0 obj <>stream You could have gotten them there faster in a backpack on a bicycle than they were getting them there, Jenkins said. Drive-through. We didnt go through the normal soliciting for an open bid, Hacker told KING 5 about Dallass hasty decision hire Honu. hVO0WqhTulCJ40;;K@5LF$:U HT^ Were going to hold them to the contract if they cant do it.. Dallas Ending Coronavirus Testing Contract With Honu Management Group 1:18. We continue to monitor Honus performance, Rubio said. 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. However, that information can be found on the DSHS website at the following link: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/AdditionalData.aspx Free Drive-Thru COVID Testing Offered Amid Spike In Local Cases - WHMI-FM The company took over public testing after the city and county stopped working with the federal government because it was taking too long to return results to residents. Ambulnz Holdings, LLC, statewide, homebound; community mobile sites; seasonal agriculture; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $15,000,000. Date of Birth / / mm / dd / yyyy. We will get residents fast,accurate results. The latest Tweets from Honu MG (@HonuMg). Recovery Mobile Clinic, Regions 9 and 10, community mobile sites; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $1,400,000. Hacker says the city and county showed little concern when she first told city and county about Honu managements history in Washington state. She specializes in data analysis. ", "As this virus has continued to spread and adapt so have we as a company and community health service provider," Thornton wrote in an email message to the Free Press. It breaks my heart when people try to abuse the system that is designed for patient care, Thornton said. He previously worked at The Denver Post covering the statehouse and two presidential campaigns. A whistleblower alleged in 2017 that DA Medical Group representatives, including Thornton, had proposed a business arrangement: the doctors would receive a rebate for having patients prescriptions filled by Oregon pharmacies, according to Washington state investigative records obtained by The News. Thank you @Parkland @DCHHS @DallasOEM https://t.co/vNfH2ZLXJB, A city spokeswoman clarified Tuesday that the contract has not been canceled, only paused.. EB#LIUDD"?spvg^^=/um$.`9 JwK=fSwyKl%=)mLZbtrr>@@p!8mlzr}_O!r6 Er;I$QY4atZys`w{dYaPe6? Nor did the city catch a potential conflict of interest: an El Paso construction company owner used Honu to test his workers and vouched for the companys services. He told county commissioners Tuesday that his office was still reviewing the citys contract to determine if Honu met the terms of the agreement. Washington state-based Honu Management is under scrutiny after failing to meet its COVID-19 testing contract within three days. 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. Thats raising questions about why Washington state did not warn other states about the companys officers, who are linked to a long-running health care fraud investigation by the Washington State Department of Health. For now, Honu is still free to vie for millions of dollars in COVID testing contracts. However, Jenkins said, the demand for tests has fallen and Parkland hopes to be able to adjust as needed later this year. Dressed in black scrubs and orange Nikes, Thornton talked of how he grew up in Hawaii, ended up in Washington state and went from working in medical sales to forming his own healthcare management company in 2008. COVID-19 Testing Information (PHL) for Providers | SCDHEC