Health Center Testing for SARS-CoV-2 During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 5–October 2, 2020
Authors: Lisa Romero, Leah Zilversmit Pao, Hollie Clark, Catharine Riley, Sharifa Merali, Michael Park, Carrie Eggers, Stephanie Campbell, Cuong Bui, Joshua Bolton, Xuan Le, Robyn Neblett Fanfair, Michelle Rose, Alison Hinckley, Charlene Siza
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2020)

Long-standing social inequities and health disparities have resulted in increased risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, severe illness, and death among racial and ethnic minority populations.The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program supports nearly 1,400 health centers that provide comprehensive primary health care* to approximately 30 million patients in 13,000 service sites across the United States.† In 2019, 63% of HRSA health center patients who reported race and ethnicity identified as members of racial ethnic minority populations (1).Historically underserved communities and populations served by health centers have a need for access to important information and resources for preventing exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to testing for those at risk, and to follow-up services for those with positive test results.§ During the COVID-19 public health emergency, health centers ¶ have provided and continue to provide testing and follow-up care to medically underserved populations**; these centers are capable of reaching areas disproportionately affected by the pandemic.† † HRSA administers a weekly, voluntary Health Center COVID-19 Survey § § to track health center COVID-19 testing capacity and the impact of COVID-19 on operations, patients, and personnel.Potential respondents can include up to 1,382 HRSA-funded health centers.¶ ¶ To assess health centers' capacity to reach racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk for COVID-19 and to provide access to testing, CDC and HRSA analyzed survey * Based on community needs, health centers offer medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, and enabling services.† https://bphc.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bphc/about/healthcenterfactsheet.pdf.§ Follow up services could include support for public health contact tracing, case investigation, case management, reporting, and isolation/quarantine. ¶ The term "health center" is used to include both Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Health Center Program Look-Alikes (i.e., a health center that meets all Health Center Program requirements but does not receive federal award funding).During COVID-19, HRSA provided one-time COVID-19 funding to FQHCs and Health Center Look-Alikes to purchase, administer, and expand capacity for testing to monitor and support COVID-19 testing and response related activities.Data from FQHCs are included for this analysis.** https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/mua-find.† † Areas where economic, geographic, or cultural barriers limit access to affordable health care services.§ § https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/coronavirus-health-center-data/.¶ ¶ In June 2020, there were 1,382 HRSA-funded health centers; by September 2020, there were 1,376.national patient population was White, 35% Hispanic, § § § 18% Black, 4% Asian, 1% American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), 1% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and 1.3% multiracial persons; race/ethnicity was not reported for 6% of the patient population (Figure ) (1).By comparison, § § § Patients who reported Hispanic/Latino ethnicity were classified as Hispanic/ Latino, regardless of race.FIGURE.Racial/ethnic distribution of 2019 national* and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded health center † patient populations § and persons who received testing and had positive SARS-CoV-2 test results ¶ -Health Center COVID-19 Survey, United States, June 5-October 2, 2020 Hispanic/Latino White, NH Asian, NH AI/AN, NH Black, NH