Delay for pilot elementary school COVID-19 testing program

A COVID-19 saliva sample is collected as testing is conducted on July 7, 2020, in a tent on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The school district’s pilot covid-19 testing program for elementary students has been delayed because the vendor chosen for the trial will not bill students’ insurers directly, organizers said.

The program was expected to roll out March 6.

In a Tuesday email to participating families, organizers wrote:

  • The start date of the pilot testing program for students in hybrid instruction at PUSD, which was slated to begin this week, has been postponed. During the final days of set-up, the contracted vendor decided that it was not going to bill the family’s insurance as part of the process.
  • Because insurance reimbursement is key to both the long term success and funding of the testing program, PUSD and the parent-led committee together have decided to look into additional vendors before committing to this lab. While the delay is disappointing, we are committed to quickly finding another suitable testing option for students within our community. Once the vendor and logistics are finalized, families and volunteers who signed up will be contacted directly with new details. 
  • The team thanks everyone for their patience as they work diligently to create a convenient testing solution for students in Piedmont. In the meantime, please don’t wait to get tested. You can find a nearby testing site here: https://covid19.ca.gov/get-tested/. Many of these sites offer testing for free or will bill your insurance. Let’s all continue to take the health of our families, ourselves, and our neighbors very seriously. Be empowered. Go get tested. Know your status. For more information or questions, please email piedmonttesting@gmail.com.

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