In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Administration for Community Living and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response are partnering to provide at-home COVID-19 tests at no charge to aging and disability networks. Through this partnership, Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) can order test kits at no charge directly from the Strategic National Stockpile to help distribute to older adults and people with disabilities within the region.
At this time, only aging and disability organizations are eligible to sign up for this program. Centralina AAA has distributed over 6,200 kits as of February 25, 2023, and the demand continues. Test kits have been distributed to a variety of our partners such as senior centers, Departments of Social Services, non-profit agencies, housing authorities and nutrition and transportation providers. Any agency is eligible if they provide services and support to people with disabilities, older adults and or their families and caregivers. Test kits are also directly provided to partnering agencies’ staff and volunteers.
Test kits have been an important tool in managing the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years. Centralina Area Agency on Aging Director, Linda Miller, explains, “This initiative allows Centralina to help local provider agencies save administrative time and cost while also better preparing their clients, clients’ family and caregivers and staff through the use of COVID tests.”
With the end of the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023, Medicare and many other insurances will not cover at-home kits free of charge. Having test kits available continues to be valuable for older adults and their families as they remain a high-risk population for contracting COVID-19.
If you, your agency or organization is interested in partnering with Centralina to distribute COVID test kits, please contact Caitlin McElrath at cmcelrath@centralina.org
