This week, CSAC hosted the California Health and Human Services
(CHHS) Secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, on the State’s efforts to
expand access to COVID-19 testing through their new PerkinElmer
contract. PerkinElmer, a major diagnostics company, will be
contractually obligated to add up to 150,000 new laboratory
COVID-19 tests per day. During the briefing Secretary Ghaly
reported the impetus behind this contract was to eliminate supply
chain competition with other states across the country.
The contract between PerkinElmer and the State has identified
responsibilities for each entity. These responsibilities include:
Building the laboratories;
Paying for test processing and recoup through third-party
billing;
Overseeing specimen processing in laboratories; and
Ensuring that PerkinElmer delivers results within 24-48
hours.
The State has provided PerkinElmer funding to support upfront
costs, with the first laboratory site transitioning to a
PerkinElmer administered laboratory in Los Angeles County next
month. The PerkinElmer contract and the State’s request for
innovative ideas looks to capitalize on California’s innovation
economy to help identify new solutions or services for COVID-19
specimen collection and transport. The goal is to create a
solution or service that is both culturally and linguistically
competent and meets the client or patient where they are so that
testing becomes more accessible and equitable for both
individuals who are disproportionately impacted by the virus as
well as those who are at greater risk. The State also wants to
ensure that the specimen collection experience is seamless,
timely, cost-effective, and convenient.
While the state identifies the role of specific partners such as,
counties and school districts, CSAC will be the liaison between
counties and CHHS. Counties interested in utilizing the
PerkinElmer sites and receiving more information as
implementation unfolds, can contact CSAC staff, Farrah McDaid Ting and Roshena Duree.
