ALABAMA, USA — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will start distributing the machines next week to 2,000 nursing homes.
The Alabama Nursing Home Association is not sure yet if any nursing homes in our state will get those machines from this initial shipment.
And if we do get the machines, there's a concern about the supply and reliability of the Covid-19 rapid tests that can give you results in minutes.
Our state's health officer, Dr. Scott Harris, saying last week those tests are in short supply and can give out false negatives.
"I don't know exactly how CMS envisions us using these. Whether it's to dovetail end with the test you are already doing. Is it something they want to have on site so that when we open visitation that you may be able to test some of your visitors? Or if they want to use this so we can spot test employees and residents. That's again, guidance we need from the federal government."
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