When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, cities and states across the nation were scrambling for everything from information and general guidance to personal protective equipment and testing kits. Stryker checked the municipal testing website and saw the Loussac was closed for testing. A veteran of AmeriCorps and Vista volunteer programs, she's previously reported for Mission Local and KQED in the Bay Area. Making COVID-19 Tests Safe and Available HHS continues to safely accelerate the authorizations and availability of COVID-19 tests. Learn more and connect with a coordinator. Emily Goodykoontz is a reporter covering Anchorage local government and general assignments. We can help you readjust to civilian life if you're returning from military service, on active duty, or an activated National Guard or Reserve member. How to catch a salmon a short walk from an Anchorage hotel. Once testing is complete, patients receive instructions about when they should expect their results and a follow-up email with instructions. The Alaska State Public Health Laboratory in Anchorage and the Alaska State Virology Laboratory in Fairbanks are both testing for SARS-CoV-2 using the CDC's real-time PCR assay, Hologic's Aptima SARS-CoV-2 Assay, and Thermofisher's TaqPath COVID-19 Combo kit.Fact sheets for patients and healthcare providers are available in the links below. Many businesses demonstrate their commitment to guest wellness by making the Healthy Anchorage Pledge. Face masks may be required in certain venues or private businesses. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Visit Healthcare testing sites, which thus far have been used by the Municipality of Anchorage to administer COVID-19 tests to residents, are slowly being changed over as Capstone Family Medicine based out of Wasilla is coming in to take them over. Capstone also already operates testing sites for the state at the University of Alaska Anchorage and at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Latest trends. When people get tested for COVID-19 at a Capstone location, Capstone may ask for your insurance information if you have insurance, but you will not receive a bill from Capstone and uninsured patients can also get a free test. In addition to these sites, testing continues to remain available at a free drive-thru site at 4115 Lake Otis Parkway operated by Providence Health & Services Alaska. Copyright 2022 KTUU. . . Thats one of the problems this may be more efficient from their perspective. Student Health and Counseling Center - University of Alaska Anchorage A primary reason for the switch is that Capstone will be able to bill health insurance for testing, something Visit Healthcare doesnt do, according to Anchorage Assembly member Kameron Perez-Verdia, co-chair of the Health Policy Committee, who talked with Gerace after the meeting. Visit Healthcare, the citys testing contractor, is reducing its hours starting Friday. Schedules posted by the company show that three of its testing sites at the Midtown Anchorage. What can I do in Alaska during a spring visit? I have more questions. The State of Alaska encourages travelers who are not fully vaccinated to practice social distancing until test results arrive. There are two main types of viral tests: nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and antigen tests. The goal of these sites is to reach portions of the community that have historically had the least access to health care services, Falsey said. Ive seen it every time Ive pulled in for Assembly meetings, Young said. For more traveler information, follow the most current information from the Centers for Disease Control, theAlaska DHSS, and Municipality of Anchorage. Month Day Year. If you feel ill or experience symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone who is ill, contact your regular medical provider by phone. The state has been so effective, in fact, that it was featured in a September 2020 Wall Street Journal article touting it as one of the most comprehensive COVID-19 testing operations in the nation. Anchorage is home to seven municipally funded COVID-19 testing sites and a DHSS site at the airport, as well as several privately owned testing sites within healthcare facilities. RN (Former Employee) - Anchorage, AK - August 6, 2021. At Alpine Urgent Care we strive to deliver excellence in care with each visit. If you need help finding care or getting problems resolved, please contact a patient advocate. That information can be found on the DHSS COVID-19 website. We may screen you for COVID-19 symptoms at the entrance. Visit Healthcare continues to host its COVID-19 testing specifically for grocery store and restaurant/bar workers and has expanded these hours as well to 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. beginning this Friday. Anchorage Health Department changes COVID-19 testing process, closing Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She's a fellow with Report for America, and is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Rate Visit. Some exceptions apply; read more from the CDC. As with any such endeavor, there was a learning curve at the beginning, and, as more is learned about COVID-19, testing sites are adapting to meet changes in CDC recommendations, as well as to make the process more comfortable for patients and testing staff. Testing | Coronavirus (COVID-19): Beacon Health System Travelers who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to get tested no more than three days prior to arriving in Alaska, according to the State of Alaska. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Visit Healthcare testing sites, which thus far have been used by the Municipality of Anchorage to administer COVID-19 tests to residents, are slowly being changed over as Capstone Family Medicine based out of Wasilla is coming in to take them over. Update the categories youd like to receive notifications about. After seeing the large public response to the testing site, the Municipality of Anchorage [MOA] put out an Invitation to Bid for more testing sites, which was awarded to Visit Healthcare, says Gray, adding that MOA then began to focus on areas of town that were medically underserved. map-marker - Providence Health Department Health Department - Municipality of Anchorage COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know | CDC We work with behavioral health providers and community organizations to help you and your family during times of crisis. Find more information regarding getting tested for COVID-19 in the municipality here. People want a personal connection to where they go, so we try to be part of the community and participate in community events. - no one is set-up specifically for 48 hours. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Travel requirements and visitor health information from the State of Alaska. Find a Vaccination Clinic | Alaska Masks: In Anchorage, face masks may be required in some businesses and communal spaces, and travelers should be prepared to wear a face mask when necessary. Can you see the northern lights from Anchorage? Many localities in the region provide other van services to Veterans. Laboratory Testing for COVID-19. Gerace said the HRSA rate is $65 per test while Visit Healthcares is $98 and to date, the city has spent more than $34 million just on testing. The multimillion-dollar contract began in July 2020 under former Mayor Ethan Berkowitzs administration. Once the PHE expires on May 11, CMS will no longer provide blanket coverage for the cost of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, the agency said. Below, youll find our address and hours, parking and transportation information, and the other health services we offer at Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System, formerly Anchorage VA Medical Center.
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