Get Results with . 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. A new internal report by Dallas Countys health department obtained by The News found that wait times for results from local Honu sites have increased markedly. We are trying to expand testing as schools start back up to anyone who wants it, he said. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering at the center. We want to get those results. Finally, the Honu Management Group, conducts COVID testing and provides weekly access to COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. The effects also could lead to the development of new conditions, such as diabetes or a heart or nervous . We work in healthcare to make a difference, and we do it to provide a service the best we can to all people affected during these times.. Honus CEO said the company was truthful in the application. Sutfin said the state "closely monitors lab turnaround time and will do so in this case as well, as testing with Honu ramps up.". It wasn't until six weeks into its contract with the state of Michigan, that Honu began testing people here. Anderson confirmed Honu did perform the work, including sending staff to Andersons business to test employees. The city said it did not know that Honu, under a prior name, had been mentioned in a Washington state investigation of a kickback scheme involving podiatrists and prescription foot creams. It was interesting. Those under the age of 18 will need a guardian's consent. Dallas County, meanwhile, has not paid any portion of its contract, said Darryl Martin, the countys administrator. Since the first report of a cluster of cases of acute respiratory illness in China, the current coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has spread globally exacting a huge toll on individuals, families, communities, and societies across the world, resulting in a World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a pandemic 1, 2.The COVID-19 response has highlighted the need for a . The CAPA/IAPA expert group defined 14 areas in which recommendations would be made. There are several variants of the virus circulating in our state, including the concerning Delta variant, and we know the vaccine is our best protection against COVID-19.". After learning of the states investigation involving tests results from Honus lab partner, The News began looking into the company. Testing will take place at the . 12615 E. Mission Ave Ste #101, Spokane Valley, WA 99216. 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. A spokesman for Mayor Eric Johnson confirmed the change. Washington state-based Honu Management Group also may have overstated the scope of its work when it negotiated its Dallas coronavirus testing contract, and claimed to have White House. The number of active COVID cases has also continued to rise. The county looked at more than. Some of the questions now being asked about Honu Management stem from a KING 5 Investigation that aired in November. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Parkland has played a role in public testing, usually working with other agencies, including the federal government. Sutfin said the state will "carefully monitorHonus performance, including its timeliness, and take action if problems arise. "Honu scored the highest during a Joint Evaluation Committee evaluation of proposals from the five bidders and it was determined that they met the requirements," Sutfin said. Once the site moved to Eastfield College in August, that time jumped to 6.1 days. Honus application also said another company called mLife helped gain White House approval for Honus coronavirus testing program. mLife Diagnostics President Hunt Allred said mLife sent Honus information to contacts in D.C., but isnt sure what happened from there. ACCESS, Region 10, homebound; community mobile sites; shelters and vulnerable populations - $1,100,000. In the last week, Honu alsoconducted coronavirus testing atHealthSource Saginaw, Sutfin said. Date and Time of Collection. Less than two months after that story aired, Thornton and at least three other DA Medical Group employees formed a new company in January Honu and began soliciting and bidding on COVID-19 testing contracts across the country. The first reference, Converging Health, confirmed to the city it worked with Honu on a large testing project and said Honu went above and beyond to help us meet the demands of the client with such a short timeline, records show. Stay informed with a detailed weekly report on DFWs evolving healthcare industry. City representatives had previously said publicly that Honu was meeting the terms of its contract. After doing business as DA Medical Group for over a decade, the company rebranded as Honu in January. Testing is free and available to members of the community with or without COVID-19 symptoms. They will be phased in as needed as the National Guard is still providing testing assistance. Both Rapid and PCR COVID-19 tests are available to individuals of any age, regardless of symptoms. American Airlines, flight attendants file for mediation during contract negotiations, New Uptown office tower lands second major lease, Years after North Texas bid for Amazons second headquarters, retail giant halts plan, Mesquite to become the site of new 2,500-home community, North Texas builders see influx of activity in new year, but challenges persist, Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, The Cowboys are closer than you think to a total makeover at running back, 12 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants that have closed in 2023, Ex-Cowboys OC Kellen Moore opens up on Dallas departure, shows gratitude for Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys focused on adding another dynamic offensive weapon. Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: 313-222-5997 or kshamus@freepress.com. 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. 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. "The vendor was not required to comment on events that were pending," Sutfin said. Download File. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Within the last five years, has your company or any of its related business entities defaulted on a contract or had a contract terminated for cause? We will get residents fast,accurate results. Honus CEO, Devin Thornton of Spokane Valley, also runs DA Medical Group out of the same small office suite in a medical building just outside Spokane. hbbd```b``d7X "c"Ac ;?H2x`sl . 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. The tribe has not used any more of the test kits, Fast Horse said. Hacker says the city and county showed little concern when she first told city and county about Honu managements history in Washington state. Honu partnered with one in the Austin area. It appears one time in the companys 35-page proposal, under the name Edwin Anderson, on a California lab licensing document. Students need to be able to learn on their own in a distance learning environment, so their ability to self-regulate their learning in a distance learning environment . It isn't clear how long these effects might last. Indicate the Specimen Type/Source. By COVID-19 Bulletin: 08/19/20 Jencie Tomasek. 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. You cannot use this service to report results from a. If yes, provide the date, contracting entity, type of contract, and details about the termination or default. Previously Holly reported for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Ventura County (Calif.) Star and the Antioch (Calif.) Ledger Dispatch. To make an appointment for a COVID test, call: 325-430-7603 or 325-643-3793. Honu also managed another COVID-19 test site in Dallas County that was sponsored by local officials and did not use NovaDX to process those results. Thornton said the change came after parting ways with his former business partner. A state investigation found problems with certain tubes used to ship patient samples for testing at the lab, NovaDX, according to state health officials. hb```,,B But last week, Dallas County canceled its contract with Honu for COVID-19 testing because officials said test results were taking as long asseven days to come back. stay healthy! The other fairgrounds testing site managed by the county's Department of Emergency Management at the Gold Lot runs through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. . They collected 36 samples. . "They began testing on their own on Aug.14 at a skilled nursing facility in Detroit. A South Dakota tribe said it used the companys tests and the results were unreliable. Holly works on the investigations team after many years covering education for The Dallas Morning News. After relying on the company to run tests, Texas has now put Honu in charge of test sites in rural parts of the state, a job previously handled by the Texas National Guard, and in Dallas and El Paso. But state DOH records allege that Thornton and DA Medical orchestrated the kickback scheme using a corrupt online pharmacy and by soliciting local doctors to write the prescriptions. Peterson was asked if DOH should do more to warn other states about Honus link to DOHs ongoing investigation, since so much is at stake with coronavirus testing. Individuals wanting to be tested can contact any Georgia public health department to schedule an appointment at a SPOC location convenient to them. The decision less than two months after Honu began running drive-through testing for the city and county came after local officials began investigating the companys $14.6 million contract. Call us: 211. Dallas County Commissioners used money from the federal CARES Act to pay Honu because it was taking too long for the federally-run site to get test results back. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. American Airlines, flight attendants file for mediation during contract negotiations, New Uptown office tower lands second major lease, Years after North Texas bid for Amazons second headquarters, retail giant halts plan, Mesquite to become the site of new 2,500-home community, North Texas builders see influx of activity in new year, but challenges persist, Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, The Cowboys are closer than you think to a total makeover at running back, 12 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants that have closed in 2023, Ex-Cowboys OC Kellen Moore opens up on Dallas departure, shows gratitude for Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys focused on adding another dynamic offensive weapon. Garcia is a Colorado native who joined The Dallas Morning News in 2019. LANSING, Mich. - Six contracts totaling nearly $60 million have been awarded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to the help improve COVID-19 vaccination access for high-risk populations and settings across Michigan. 750 North St.Paul St. Results . Covid-19 Testing | Honu MG | United States Providing effective and efficient management services that assist healthcare facilities and organizations by providing cost-effective solutions to both patients and the healthcare system. 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. No appointments are needed, and those seeking assistance with test results can email Covid19Help@honumg.com or call 1-844-778-2455. Honu has lived up to the contract terms.. When the tribe used the kits to test 61 frontline workers, over half came back positive, sending a panic through our tribe, health director Skyla Fast Horse said. For assistance. 1042 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[1023 32]/Info 1022 0 R/Length 102/Prev 654034/Root 1024 0 R/Size 1055/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Honu, named for a Hawaiian green sea turtle, had a bumpy start in Texas. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, How Dallas missed potential red flags in picking a company to run a major COVID-19 testing site, Connect with needs and opportunities from. At a meeting Tuesday, county commissioners raised concern with lack of oversight. Thornton said the application shouldnt have said that and it has been taken off all of Honus subsequent proposals. We are presenting the radiological findings of invasive mucormycosis with . 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 . . 35 The state of Michigan signed a $42 million contractin July with aCOVID-19 testing companythat is under scrutiny in Texas for returning test results too slowly, and is accused of providingunreliabletest results to a South Dakota native American tribe. COVID-19 test, her result is negative. The company, he said, is conducting COVID-19 tests for both the city and county of Dallas as well as other communities in Texas and Missouri, and, as of Friday, had conducted 80,000 tests at more than 70 sites. Locations being considered for potential future HONU sites are Waimanalo, Waipahu, Wahiawa, Ewa, and Leeward Oahu. The problem: One reference said Honu overstated the scope of its work. Dallas might not use private vendors to run testing sites anymore because of concerns with timeliness and accuracy. Honu Management Group, and Fulgent should be awarded bids to fulfill the complete award Of PCR testing needed for St. Charles County. Honu Management Group started administering tests at Eastfield College in Mesquite earlier this month. Rocky Vaz, the citys director of emergency management, on Monday notified Honu Management Group that the city wanted the Washington state-based company to suspend testing Aug. 28. "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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The city was not able to reach all of Honus references, but those who responded were positive, spokeswoman Roxana Rubio said in a statement Tuesday. I didnt hear anything from the facility until ten days later when I received my test results, said Vanessa Izquierdo, who recently visited a drive-through test site that Honu ran at the University of Dallas. English Espaol Burmese Hakha Chin. Records show state investigators discovered that the pharmacies sent patients boxes of foot creams, gels, adhesive patches and other medications, and overbilled patients insurance companies -- in one case, $50,000 for drugs that a patient was prescribed for toe pain and a plantar wart. We didnt go through the normal soliciting for an open bid, Hacker told KING 5 about Dallass hasty decision hire Honu. Honu is expected to ramp up its testing capability, and be able toperform anywhere from 1,000-4,000 tests statewide per day inplaceslikenursing homes andlong-term care facilities, adult foster care homes as well as prisons, jails and homeless shelters, food processing facilities and housing formigrant workers. Texas became the fourth state to surpass 10,000 deaths on Monday, joining New Jersey, New York, and California. The company won the contract after the county stopped using the federal government for testing because it was taking too long to get results. To date, the state, through the Texas Division of Emergency Management, has paid Honu $2.4 million for its services, according to payment records posted online. Nor did the city catch a potential conflict of interest: an El Paso construction company owner used Honu to test his workers and vouched for the companys services. Click here to read more from our partners at The Dallas Morning News. Honus CEO, Devin Thornton, said his company is highly qualified and that its references had no conflicts of interest. Nic Garcia writes about government and politics in North Texas, especially Dallas County. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In August, the testing site relocated to Eastfield College in Mesquite. Sender Address. Full COVID-19 vaccination is an essential job function of this role. 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. Thornton did answer questions from the Dallas Morning News. By Wednesday, it was 3,052, and 3,246 on Thursday. Dr. In seeking a contractor, city officials bypassed the usual competitive bidding rules. Rock Island, IL. Or, for all other COVID-19 questions or concerns, call 88-217-3904, email covid@dhd10.org or visit www.dhd10.org/schedule.. 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. DALLAS A Washington state-based company is drawing increasing scrutiny as it secures publicly-funded COVID-19 testing contracts across the county. "Compliance, reliability and transparency are only a few of our guiding principles," Thornton said. All rights reserved, sharing an article from The Dallas Morning News, hat an internal investigation by the Dallas County health department revealed, 3 Children Killed, 2 Wounded in Ellis County Home; 1 in Custody: Sheriff, Actor Tom Sizemore, of Saving Private Ryan,' Dies at 61. More:Coronavirus Watch: Change is happening. Open Form. A new site will open at Westwood Mall, located at 3020 U.S. 41 West in Marquette Township, beginning Monday. Thornton said that once notified of the issue, DA Medical did its own investigation, fired the pharmacy it had worked with, and is cooperating with state investigators. 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. We want them to be accurate and timely, Jenkins said. 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If yes, provide the date, the entity, and details about the situation. in the DFW area that need your help or can provide help during The bulk more than 10,000 involved Honus site at the University of Dallas during July. ", More:State fines United Shore, 5 other businesses for coronavirus-related violations. For more help with the HONU results, email Covid19Help@honumg.com or call 844-778-2455. Jenkins toldThe Dallas Morning News onMonday that an internal investigation by the Dallas County health department revealedsamples collected at the Honu-run site was taking up to four days to reach a lab near Austin, delaying results up to seven days. The whistleblower suspected the doctors were making hundreds of thousands of dollars each year through the arrangement. Officials said the COVID-19 variant cases were identified after daily testing of inmates and staff at the facility. The city says it promised a 72-hour test result turnaround time. As of Nov. 30, Otsego County had 3,947 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths from the disease. Nic Garcia, Senior writer. After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time after. 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 News reports. COVID-19 vaccination data reporting has been discontinued on the Texas DSHS dashboard. Last month The News reported on potential. The aim of this study was to establish practical recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of influenza-associated invasive aspergillosis (IAPA) based on the available evidence and experience acquired in the management of patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). Please report a positive COVID-19 test to covidaction@utep.edu so our COVID Action Team can follow up with you. We would not be in a position to make any announcements about the company itself, said Peterson, because Honu and DA Medical are not licensed healthcare facilities. We continue to monitor Honus performance, Rubio said. The department has released the following: Six contracts totaling nearly $60 million have been . 247 0 obj <>stream For instance, Honu claimed it had experience providing testing for a Native American tribe in South Dakota. He has previously defended his companys testing work and said his goal is to help patients while keeping health care costs low. Nearly 13,000 COVID cases had been reported in St. Clair County, with 275 deaths and 3,936 active . An agency spokesman did not return requests from The News on Tuesday seeking comment about the status of the contracts. In July, Washington state-based Honu began operating a county drive-through site at the University of Dallas in Irving. Honu promised results within 72 hours. KING 5s investigation revealed a three-year probe by the Washington State Department of Health that accuses Thornton and others at DA Medical of orchestrating a kickback scheme to bilk insurance companies. According to city officials, Honu transported patient samples from its testing sites to a lab near Austin using FDA-approved procedures. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? Parkland Health and Hospital System will take over Honus testing sites at the end of the month. Honu initially gave three references as evidence it could manage the Dallas County testing site. %PDF-1.5 % LTS is working with HONU Management Group through the state and interested school districts.