A government program that helps Walmart Inc. and other retailers provide covid-19 testing across the U.S. has been extended through August, the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.
National pharmacy and grocery chains such as CVS Health, Rite-Aid, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Kroger also work with the Health and Human Services Department in its Community-Based Testing Program, which now has more than 600 sites in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
About 70% of these are in areas with vulnerable populations a result of race and ethnicity, economic challenges, language barriers and other considerations, the department said.
The Health and Human Services Department pays the labs with which Walmart works a flat fee for each test administered. It was not immediately clear Wednesday how much the labs are paid per test. A Walmart spokeswoman said the retailer donates all its services and receives no payment.
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Retailers must coordinate registration and appointment scheduling, and provide personnel, medical supplies and equipment, and lab testing through an on-site or commercial lab.
The community-based sites are not affected by the Trump administration's recent decision to close federally funded testing centers.