What Would It Cost to Test Every Nursing/Assisted Care Center in WA?

According to new data released by an extensive study done by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, the cost of testing every resident and worker would be astronomical, beyond the resources of most states.

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) is represented in Washington state by the Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) located in Tumwater, WA.

According the new study, Federal funding would be the only way to help ensure that all known nursing/assisted care residents and workers could be tested for COVID-19. The cost is estimated at over $672 million.

In Washington state, according to the study, there are 206 nursing homes, and 3,358 assisted care facilities.  The assisted care outfits serve anywhere from a handful of persons to large numbers, and while many do offer some medical programs, the residents are much more on their own.  The total number of residents and workers in both such facilities in our state is over 96,000. The cost of testing them in WA alone would be over $14.4 million, according to the study.

Those who support such efforts say the study shows the need to focus resources on the demographics hit hardest by the virus, those 62-65 and older.

To view the study and data for  yourself, click on the button below.