PORTLAND, Ore. — As testing requirements expand, many Oregonians are wondering where they can get coronavirus tests.
On Friday, May 1, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state's epidemiologist, announced the Oregon Health Authority expanded their testing capacity:
- Testing should be available for any Oregonian showing symptoms of coronavirus. If they are displaying known signs, they should be able to get tested.
- Testing must be available for people in vulnerable living settings, such as nursing homes and prisons.
- We need ongoing widespread randomized testing to know where the disease may be hiding in our state and monitor at-risk populations, such as communities of color and tribal communities.
Previously, only people who had severe symptoms could get tested, after getting the blessing of their doctors. Dr. Sidelinger also said he thinks the state is on track to increase testing capacity to 15,000 tests per week.
Here are some common questions about testing:
Does insurance cover testing?
Yes, Gov. Kate Brown reached an agreement with the following insurance providers to waive co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles related to COVID-19 testing, both for fully-insured individual and group health plans with:
- BridgeSpan Health Company
- Health Net Health Plan of Oregon, Inc.
- Kaiser Permanente
- Moda Health Plan, Inc.
- PacificSource Health Plans
- Providence Health Plans
- Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Samaritan Health Plans, Inc.
You can be tested at an in-network provider, an urgent care center and at an emergency room. This will eventually cover immunization for coronavirus, once a vaccine is available.
If you are self-insured, have Medicare, have a high-deductible health plan or HSA, or are part of a health sharing-ministry, click here for more information.
What if I don't have insurance?
If you don't have health insurance, you can apply for OHP coverage online, which will cover testing for COVID-19. If you don't want to sign up for OHP, see a clinician through a federally qualified health center.
Outside of seeing a primary care doctor, can I get a COVID-19 test at an urgent care facility?
- ZOOM+Care: Yes, tests are available. If you think you need testing, schedule a teledoc appointment online, who will diagnose your symptoms and decide whether or not you should be tested.
- AFC Urgent Care: Testing is available 7 days a week, along with drive-through testing. You will also need to schedule an appointment with a teledoc first. You'll get your results within 72 hours. Antibody tests are available here too.
- LegacyHealth Urgent Care: Priority is given to first responders, but members of the public can also schedule a teledoc appointment, and determine whether or not they're eligible for a test. Test results can come back in 15 minutes.
- Walgreens drive-through testing: Walgreens is now working with a private lab, LabCorp, to conduct drive-through testing in several states, including Oregon. You can find out if you're eligible by filling out this form online (note: you have to have COVID symptoms to get tested).
What about local hospitals?
- Providence: Call ahead to a Providence location doing coronavirus testing and schedule an appointment. Do not walk in. If you are unsure if your symptoms qualify, take their online test.
- Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU): Drive-through testing is available in two locations, one at the Expo Center in Portland and another at the Gordon Faber Recreation Center in Hillsboro. To get a test, you need to have these COVID-19 symptoms. No appointment or provider referral is necessary. More info here.
- Legacy: If you're a Legacy Medical patient, you can schedule a teledoc visit online and your doctor can determine whether or not you're eligible for a test.
What's the testing capacity right now?
Dr. Sidelinger said he would like to see the state go through about 15,000 tests a week. Here's where the numbers stand:
- Legacy: Processing an average of 3,500 per week through their hospitals and urgent care locations, but capacity is 5,250 per week as of May 1.
- Oregon State Public Health Lab: Weekly capacity is 490 as of April 26.
- OHSU: Has a capacity of 5,600 tests per week and is performing about 2,800/week, as of April 20.
- Providence: Capacity for 4,200 tests per week, but they averaged closer to 2,100 tests a week as of April 20.
- TOTAL: Capacity -- 15,540; average -- 8,890 tests per week statewide.
Did we miss a testing location? Email newstips@kgw.com.