"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. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 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. The problem: One reference said Honu overstated the scope of its work. Dallas suspended its contract with Honu after it heard more stories like Vanessas, and a study showed that Honu was taking an average of eight days to provide test results at one test site. You may continue to test positive on antigen tests for a few weeks after your initial positive. Direct Patient lines are open: 8:30am to 7:00pm Monday through Friday 8:30am - Noon on Saturdays. Click the link below to access the federal government's information and resources. I do know that based on what Ive read that theres been an interest at the federal level on kickback schemes involving pharmacies across the nation, said Peterson. 235 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<8763DAC2B36949EDBEB7040E1499219C><09BE46F66F2F17459397F1020D978FC3>]/Index[216 32]/Info 215 0 R/Length 95/Prev 52306/Root 217 0 R/Size 248/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Experts say that current death counts are bound to be an undercount because of insufficient testing at the beginning of the pandemic. hb```,,B That hasnt happened yet.. Providing effective and efficient management services through transparent business partnerships with physicians and healthcare groups. Texas became the fourth state to surpass 10,000 deaths on Monday, joining New Jersey, New York, and California. Earlier this month, commissioners questioned the companys long turnaround times and the accuracy of the test results. Honu. If you are a new sender, please provide your contact information and a fax number. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins first announced the shift from Honu to Parkland in a late-night tweet Monday. Open Form. Audio Visual Fabrication Engineer. However, that information can be found on the DSHS website at the following link: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/AdditionalData.aspx "We welcome the audits as an opportunity to affirm who we are as a company," he said. 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. LTS is working with HONU Management Group through the state and interested school districts. CS210403013 WellHealth Management State and Community-Based COVID-19 Testing QVL Purchasing has awarded twenty (20) contracts to labs for COVID-19 Testing. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nearly $60 million in contracts to promote COVID-19 vaccination among high risk populations. The contract with Hanu is being cancelled. the Coronavirus crisis. Dallas, Texas 75201. The department has not issued any charges and the case remains open. Date of Birth. . Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "We have encountered and overcome challenges along the way.". In August, the testing site relocated to Eastfield College in Mesquite. Honu set up its first testing site July 1 at the University of Dallas in Irving. We will get residents fast,accurate results. Testing for a national. City officials bypassed the usual competitive bidding rules in an effort to quickly provide testing to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Honu first pitched its services to the city of Dallas in April, officials said. Recommended when you're adding many individuals. Allie Morris, Austin Bureau Correspondent . 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. COVID-19 has resulted in the increased use of distance learning around the world. 216 0 obj <> endobj This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The city and county of Dallas also wanted a company that could quickly process a high volume of tests, after frustrations with the federally supported sites, which officials said were taking up to 10 days to return results. Date of Birth. He also reports on social justice issues and inequities. The Texas Tribune has more. Both the city and county planned to pay Honu using a portion of the $500 million in federal aid the local governments received from Congress as part of its coronavirus relief package. English Espaol Burmese Hakha Chin. Its unclear whether the contract also addresses transport times from the testing site to the lab. 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. 12615 E. Mission Ave Ste #101, Spokane Valley, WA 99216. 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 results within three days. People can request an appointment by calling or texting 888-776-5252, or visiting mdmedicalgroup.us. The company was testing up to 500 people per day. If the answer is yes, then state the date of initial filing, case name and court number, and jurisdiction. Honu Management Group Aug 2020 - Present2 years 6 months Michigan, United States Epic Sr. Credentialed Trainer ASAP Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals May 2019 - Nov 20197 months Greater. You could have gotten them there faster in a backpack on a bicycle than they were getting them there, Jenkins said. For assistance. Neither the Department of Health, the 2-1-1 call center, nor the COVID-19 questions hotline are able to inform patients of their test results. Nearly 13,000 COVID cases had been reported in St. Clair County, with 275 deaths and 3,936 active . "Honu shadowed the National Guard at some testing events in early August," said Lynn Sutfin, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She previously worked for the San Antonio Express-News and in New Hampshire, as the statehouse reporter for the Concord Monitor. As far as Im concerned, I dont care if it was the University of Dallas or Mountain View, they have not performed, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said Tuesday during the commissioners meeting. This was in partnership with the National Guard, HONU Management Group, and the city of Detroit. Ambulnz Holdings, LLC, statewide, homebound; community mobile sites; seasonal agriculture; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $15,000,000. 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. Previously Holly reported for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Ventura County (Calif.) Star and the Antioch (Calif.) Ledger Dispatch. A Dallas Morning News investigation earlier this month found that the city missed potential warning flags in Honus application. of Health and Human Services and HONU . Healthcare is not something we take lightly. Testing is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates and locations: For assistance regarding rural test results email help@txcovidtest.org or call 1 (833)213-0643. Our company has and will always operate with the utmost compliance to both federal and state regulations, he said. People are friendly and accommodating! 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. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. She noted that theres a clause in the contract that allows for termination - but that hasnt been necessary. The licensed doctors, who denied any wrongdoing through their attorneys, are the ones under investigation. Allie has covered Texas politics since 2017 and written about everything from tax policy to child protection. A South Dakota tribe said it used the companys tests and the results were unreliable. The state of Michigan recently signed a $42 million contract with Honu, which is expected to begin testing there within a few weeks. Introduction. 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. We want them to be accurate and timely, Jenkins said. 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. The latest Tweets from Honu MG (@HonuMg). 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. The change takes effect Aug. 28 at Dallas College Eastfield Campus in Mesquite, Jenkins said. We do not make unsubstantiated claims or exaggerations, Thornton said in an email. 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. 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. The city and county announced that after June 30 the American Airlines Center site would move to the University of Dallas in Irving, with Honu taking over operations and projecting a faster turnaround time. The latest information is available atMichigan.gov/CoronavirusandCDC.gov/Coronavirus. The state's contract stipulates that Honu can use either polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests or rapid point-of-care tests that have gottenemergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Thornton and Anderson both told The News there is no conflict of interest because Dallas is not using NovaDX as the lab for its contract with the city. %%EOF The second omicron variant comes into focus. Were going to hold them to the contract if they cant do it.. 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. City representatives had previously said publicly that Honu was meeting the terms of its contract. It isn't clear how long these effects might last. The city and county of Dallas end their $14 million contract with Honu Management Group, who ran COVID-19 testing sites. Washingtonians weigh in on recent efforts to limit insulin costs, Winner of $754.6 million Powerball jackpot's identity revealed, Portions of western Washington under Winter Weather Advisory overnight, accuses Thornton and others at DA Medical of orchestrating a kickback. The contract with Hanu (sic) is being cancelled, Jenkins wrote. 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. The city of Dallas has paid Honu $1 million, according to the citys public check register. After waiting 10 days for an inconclusive test result, shes still not sure if she had the virus. What no one mentioned then: Anderson and his son own Nova Labs, also called NovaDX -- one of Honus lab partners where the workers samples were tested, records show. For questions about test results, call 800-402-0000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (EST) Saturday. Hacker, who was researching the startup company that was receiving up to $14 million from Dallas and $17 million more from the Texas Division of Emergency Management, found Honus connection to the Washington state investigation after viewing the KING 5 story online. In seeking a contractor, city officials bypassed the usual competitive bidding rules. Holly works on the investigations team after many years covering education for The Dallas Morning News. DALLAS - Dallas County is ending its contract with the company that runs one of the largest COVID-19 testing sites in North Texas. undefined mi away Get Directions Insurance information unknown Antibody, Antigen View Details Fast Track Immediate Care As Dallas County residents wait longer for COVID-19 test results at one site, leaders demand change, earlier this month found that the city missed potential, 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. T>103Yh~m&&=bg3ZBs L55@:sad`p2h3! X A general rise in COVID-19 cases, as well as the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant in Livingston County, is prompting a drive-thru testing event this weekend. Thornton also said Andersons lab ownership was clearly listed in the documents Honu submitted to the city and the county. Candidates located in states that mandate COVID-19 booster doses must also comply with those state requirements. Please check and confirm the following: If yes, provide the date, the entity, and details about the situation. In May, the city asked Honu for additional references to show the company could handle a bigger job, Thornton said. Testing will take place at the . Contractors will be required to schedule appointments and manage all logistics involved in providing mobile vaccinations. Visit our frequently asked questions page for our most commonly answered questions on COVID-19. Even gaining White House approval for its testing program. 1023 0 obj <> endobj It wasn't until six weeks into its contract with the state of Michigan, that Honu began testing people here. 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. 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. He has previously defended his companys testing work and said his goal is to help patients while keeping health care costs low. The county looked at more than 12,000 test results from Honu sites in the Dallas area over six weeks in July and August. That ensures the city is aware of any past problems and can talk through them with the vendor before making a decision. Honolulu Fire Department will be conducting drive-thru COVID-19 testing location on the west side of Oahu, beginning Sunday, Sept. 19, providing free COVID-19 tests in the parking lot area of the . County officials said they believe the slowdown was driven by two factors: a delay in transporting the specimens from Dallas to the lab near Austin and a backup at the lab. It made us ask more questions about just who is this company? Hacker said. Absent a national testing program, state and local governments are taking on much of this crucial work themselves. 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. In July, Washington state-based Honu began operating a county drive-through site at the University of Dallas in Irving. On Monday, it was 2,604. People who had severe illness with COVID-19 might experience organ damage affecting the heart, kidneys, skin and brain. Mail or fax your completed Authorization to Release Laboratory Results form (PDF 63kb). Get the latest coronavirus and public health updates. 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. "This is part of the state's efforts to bring vaccine into communities and to vaccinate as many Michiganders as possible. We were in need of a vendor to continue our testing and Honu was the only vendor to respond completely to meet our needs, Rocky Vaz, director of the citys Office of Emergency Management, said last week. Dallas County COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Dallas County, as are hospitalizations across the state. 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. DALLAS A Washington state-based company is drawing increasing scrutiny as it secures publicly-funded COVID-19 testing contracts across the county. No spam, ever. . The Texas Division of Emergency Management tapped the company in May as one of several to help process COVID-19 tests. Parkland Health & Hospital System will take over coordinating local testing, Jenkins announced on Twitter by sharing an article from The Dallas Morning News. 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. 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. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. After the Dallas Morning News articles, the mayor of Dallas called for an audit into how the Honu contract was awarded. It has no jurisdiction over DA Medical Group or Thornton, she said. The Washington state company edged out industry giant Quest Diagnostics and a local firm to land a $14.6 million contract with the city of Dallas to test thousands of people for COVID-19, city officials said. For questions about test results, call Honu at 866-809-8282. NtU^s Honu initially gave three references as evidence it could manage the Dallas County testing site. *+c"(wLu&XvqGPxw"jxuy~U[%8I&2:(L j@QHH5B0$/^( Leverage your professional network, and get hired.
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