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Idaho State College of Pharmacy helps supply Idaho pharmacies with rapid COVID-19 testing equipment

October 26, 2020

Photo of front of Leonard Hall Pharmacy Building

Grant funds from the Idaho Board of Pharmacy enhance testing capabilities across the state

POCATELLO – Beginning in early October 2020, select community pharmacies will provide enhanced, rapid response COVID-19 testing services to Idaho residents. The COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing Expansion Program seeks to expand existing capacity for coronavirus testing across Idaho by delivering rapid antigen point-of-care testing, as well as self-administered nasal swab sample collection.

This program's tests will be offered at pharmacies in Caldwell, Gooding, Hailey, Kuna, Jerome, Montpelier, Pocatello, Potlatch, Priest River and Twin Falls (please see table below).

Grant funds from the Idaho Board of Pharmacy have allowed the ISU College of Pharmacy to purchase new equipment that will be delivered to up to 30 community pharmacies who have opted in to the program. The machine, called the “BD Veritor™ Plus System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2” was selected because of the availability of testing kits. This on-demand, rapid results test is effective, with results available within 15 minutes, and is deployable in rural areas, user-friendly, and cost-effective.

Citizens who have experienced symptoms within five days of seeking testing, including Medicaid recipients and uninsured patients, will be eligible to receive a rapid antigen test. All other individuals will be tested via a self-administered nasal swab, and samples will be transferred to an in-state laboratory for analysis and reporting. Additionally, patients who test negative on the point of care testing will also be given a confirmatory nasal swab test. These lab results will be available within 48-72 hours.

ISU contracted with Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network of Idaho (CPESN-ID) to enroll network pharmacies that provide enhanced services as testing sites, with the goal of enrolling a total of 30 statewide. Each of Idaho’s seven public health districts will have at least one participating pharmacy, with special attention paid to rural, sparsely populated areas.

CPESN-ID member pharmacies are ideal public health partners because of the range of enhanced services they provide, including: face-to-face access to pharmacists; medication reconciliation; clinical medical synchronization, disease state management and monitoring; immunizations; comprehensive medication reviews and collaboration on patient care plans; and, a personal medication record. For additional information about the services offered at CPESN-ID Network pharmacies, visit: https://cpesn.com/payors/services-available-from-cpesn-network-pharmacies/

Participating pharmacies will bill Idaho Medicaid for service delivery and sample collection. In this initial phase, the rapid antigen tests are free to the patient because they are covered by grant funding. However, patients may need to pay up to $95 for lab-based swab analysis, depending on their insurance status. Most insurance companies are covering this cost, and the lab has funds to cover the costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients.

Shanna O’Connor, PharmD, BCACP, assistant clinical professor for the College of Pharmacy says, “The ultimate goal is to establish community-based pharmacies as key testing partners and develop a sustainable reimbursement model to support these partners. We are thankful to have the support of the Idaho Board of Pharmacy, who provided the seed program funding to cover the costs while reimbursement models are developed with private and public insurers.”

The included chart shows participating pharmacies, including hours of operation and contact information.

 

Pharmacy

Address

Phone Number

Testing Days/Time

Start Date

Public Health District

Bear Lake Drug

836 Washington St., Montpelier, ID 83254

208-847-1421

Tuesday through Friday 8:30am-10:30am

26-Oct

D6 (Southeastern)

Bengal Pharmacy

990 South 8th Ave, Pocatello, ID 83209

208-282-3407

Monday through Friday 12:30pm-3:30pm

28-Oct

D6 (Southeastern)

Custom Rx Pharmacy

173 W 4th St., Kuna, ID 83634

208-922-4400

Tuesday and Thursday 8:30am-10:00am

20-Oct

D4 (Central)

Ed Snell's Pharmacy Shop

1015 E Young St., Pocatello, ID 83201

208-232-0049

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 3:30pm-6:00pm

20-Oct

D6 (Southeastern)

Gooding Pharmacy

414 Main St., Gooding, ID 83330

208-934-4000

Tuesday and Thursday 9am-11am

10-Nov

D5 (South Central)

Luke's Family Pharmacy

101 S. Main St., Hailey, ID 83333

208-788-4970

Tuesday and Thursday 9am-1pm

3-Nov

D5 (South Central)

Maag Prescription and Medical Supply

333 W Center St., Pocatello, ID 83204

208-233-2063

Monday through Friday 11am-1pm

19-Oct

D6 (Southeastern)

Medical Clinic Pharmacy

315 E. Elm St., Ste. 150, Caldwell, ID 83605

208-459-1503

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-12pm

2-Nov

D3 (Southwest)

Northwest Pharmacy

525 Pine St., Potlatch, ID 83855

208-875-1212

Tuesday and Thursday 8am-10am

3-Nov

D2 (North Central)

R&R Pharmacy-Jerome

133 West Ave. A, Jerome, ID 83338

208-324-3784

Tuesday and Thursday 9am-11am

17-Nov

D5 (South Central)

R&R Pharmacy-Twin Falls

2392 Addison Ave. E, Twin Falls, ID 83301

208-933-2050

Tuesday and Thursday 9am-11am

17-Nov

D5 (South Central)

Shaver Pharmacy and Compounding Center

235 South 4th Ave., Pocatello, ID 83201

208-233-3341

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30am-10am

14-Oct

D6 (Southeastern)

White Cross Pharmacy

5453 Highway 2, Priest River, ID 83856

208-623-8485

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7am-9am

2-Nov

D1 (Panhandle)

 

 


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