Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins first announced the shift from Honu to Parkland in a late-night tweet Monday. The city says it promised a 72-hour test result turnaround time. When Honu Management Group pitched itself to run a major coronavirus testing site for the city and county of Dallas, the company listed impressive experience. In one case, Honu told the city it had worked with a healthcare company called CareATC, and that CareATC had established testing facilities for emergency workers in Dallas and four other cities across the country. Only 237 of the reported new cases are from recent testing. Stay informed with a detailed weekly report on DFWs evolving healthcare industry. Holly works on the investigations team after many years covering education for The Dallas Morning News. Back to coronavirus.in.gov; Need help? Click here to read more from our partners at The Dallas Morning News. Thornton told The News there was no kickback scheme. Honus CEO, Devin Thornton of Spokane Valley, also runs DA Medical Group out of the same small office suite in a medical building just outside Spokane. The Dallas Morning News reported that Honu misrepresented or overstated its qualifications when it proposed managing COVID-19 drive-through testing and laboratory analysis for contracts in Dallas and Dallas County. Please write in "COVID-19 under the TEST REQUESTED section. The first reference, Converging Health, confirmed to the city it worked with Honu on a large testing project and said Honu went above and beyond to help us meet the demands of the client with such a short timeline, records show. The department is partnering with HONU Management . As of Nov. 30, Otsego County had 3,947 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths from the disease. She previously worked for the San Antonio Express-News and in New Hampshire, as the statehouse reporter for the Concord Monitor. "Honu scored the highest during a Joint Evaluation Committee evaluation of proposals from the five bidders and it was determined that they met the requirements," Sutfin said. He has previously defended his companys testing work and said his goal is to help patients while keeping health care costs low. Results . Previously Holly reported for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Ventura County (Calif.) Star and the Antioch (Calif.) Ledger Dispatch. in the DFW area that need your help or can provide help during If the answer is yes, then state the date of initial filing, case name and court number, and jurisdiction. Has your company been a party to litigation against the state of Michigan? I didnt hear anything from the facility until ten days later when I received my test results, said Vanessa Izquierdo, who recently visited a drive-through test site that Honu ran at the University of Dallas. Parkland Health & Hospital System will take over coordinating local testing, Jenkins announced on Twitter by sharing an article from The Dallas Morning News. City officials bypassed the usual competitive bidding rules in an effort to quickly provide testing to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Honu first pitched its services to the city of Dallas in April, officials said. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Tarrant County Jail corporal killed in single-vehicle crash in Arlington, Rockwall-Heath coach resigns after school workout investigation, Things to do this weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth: March 3-5, Prosper man who shot neighbor's pit bull will not face charges, One charged in Lake Worth chase that injured 13-year-old sexual assault victim, more arrests expected, New street drug 'tranq dope,' rots skin, turns humans into 'zombies', 3 children killed, 2 hurt in Italy, Texas, Biden has cancerous skin lesion removed from chest, doctor says, Severe weather video and photos from around North Texas, Suspected North Texas scented candle thieves allegedly stole $27,774 worth of items. An agency spokesman did not return requests from The News on Tuesday seeking comment about the status of the contracts. We were in need of a vendor to continue our testing and Honu was the only vendor to respond completely to meet our needs, Rocky Vaz, director of the citys Office of Emergency Management, said last week. %%EOF Mail or fax your completed Authorization to Release Laboratory Results form (PDF 63kb). It has no jurisdiction over DA Medical Group or Thornton, she said. It was interesting. For additional. The bulk more than 10,000 involved Honus site at the University of Dallas during July. A spokeswoman for the Washington health department, Jessica Baggett, said the investigation focuses on three podiatrists because they are licensed by the state. Sutfin said the state "closely monitors lab turnaround time and will do so in this case as well, as testing with Honu ramps up.". 35 . Providing effective and efficient management services through transparent business partnerships with physicians and healthcare groups. Conventional diagnostic tests for the novel coronavirus may give false-negative results about 30% of the time, meaning people with an active COVID-19 infection still test negative for the disease . Some of the questions now being asked about Honu Management stem from a KING 5 Investigation that aired in November. Michigan's contract with Honu, which took effect July 1, stipulates that the company mustprovide COVID-19 specimen collection, testing and reporting for high-risk populations in Michigan through Jan. 31, 2021. Were just looking for someone to get the job done, he said last week. The company offered Ed Anderson, the owner of an El Paso construction company. Our company has and will always operate with the utmost compliance to both federal and state regulations, he said. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Honu also would be "responsible for rapid response when outbreaks occur.". All COVID-19 testing is performed by Honu Management Group, a company contracted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide COVID-19 testing at clinics throughout. Dallas might not use private vendors to run testing sites anymore because of concerns with timeliness and accuracy. Clients and Partners What no one mentioned then: Anderson and his son own Nova Labs, also called NovaDX -- one of Honus lab partners where the workers samples were tested, records show. In August, the testing site relocated to Eastfield College in Mesquite. Many governments are turning to emergency procurements in the scramble to provide crucial services and goods related to the pandemic like testing supplies and protective gear. The county has not paid any of its part of the deal. It appears one time in the companys 35-page proposal, under the name Edwin Anderson, on a California lab licensing document. I think its all a money grab, regardless of the interest of the general public, said Vanessa Izquierdo of Dallas. The state of Michigan recently signed a $42 million contract with Honu, which is expected to begin testing there within a few weeks. Augusta, GA. 3/1/2023. Honu also has an agreement with the Texas Division of Emergency Management to provide testing at numerous sites around the state, including one at Mountain View College in Dallas. The doctors then allegedly received a share of insurance reimbursements a kickback. She noted that theres a clause in the contract that allows for termination - but that hasnt been necessary. Separately, the city did not address questions about the difference in positive test results, but said Tuesday it is beginning a competitive bidding process to look for additional testing vendors, should they be needed. *+c"(wLu&XvqGPxw"jxuy~U[%8I&2:(L j@QHH5B0$/^( She specializes in data analysis. For additional guidance please email COVID_PHL@dhec.sc.gov or call 803-896-0819. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. UnitedHealth Group will adhere to all federal, state and local regulations as well as all client requirements and will obtain necessary proof of vaccination, and . In emergencies where cities are choosing vendors with little or no competition, its important to stringently vet the company and its executives, said Sean Moulton, a senior policy analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit. The most common reason for delay in receiving results is inaccurate or out-of-date personal information on record with your health care providers or in your Labcorp Patient portal personal profile. 1023 0 obj <> endobj The city said it did not know that Honu, under a prior name, had been mentioned in a Washington state investigation of a kickback scheme involving podiatrists and prescription foot creams. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. Honu is classified as a woman owned small business, recognized NAGC certified member, and registered GSA contractor (CAGE: 8LTV3, DUNS 117481755) that has worked to help provide patient centered services with a focus on care coordination, collaboration, and transparency in order to provide health care services with cost-effective solutions. Testing is free and available to members of the community with or without COVID-19 symptoms. Parkland, the county hospital, expanded its role in testing when it took over the federal site at the Ellis Davis Field House in southern Dallas. The site moved this week to Dallas College Eastfield Campus. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. 247 0 obj <>stream The citys vetting process did not pick up potential red flags, The Dallas Morning News found. Students need to be able to learn on their own in a distance learning environment, so their ability to self-regulate their learning in a distance learning environment . At Eastfield, it took four or more days for 97% of the samples to be collected and analyzed, and then for results to be reported, county data show. We currently have open cases against several podiatrists who worked with DA Medical Group, Peterson said. Sutfin said the state will "carefully monitorHonus performance, including its timeliness, and take action if problems arise. Has bidder ever been debarred, suspended, or disqualified from bidding or contracting with any entity, including the state of Michigan? If yes, provide the date, the entity, and details about the situation. HONU sites will continue to rotate through multiple locations on Oahu for up to a maximum of 90-days at a time. Recovery Mobile Clinic, Regions 9 and 10, community mobile sites; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $1,400,000. Thornton said when he submitted references to the city, it was Honus intention to provide COVID-19 testing at CareATC sites. Both the city and county of Dallas have ended their contract with embattled Honu Management Group, which ran the largest public COVID-19 testing site, The Dallas Morning News reports. The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information at a federal level about COVID-19 and our current pandemic. MANISTEE -- District Health Department #10 is hosting a COVID-19 testing clinic, in partnership with Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and the City of Ludington, at the Harbor View Marina. AH6HL??o >J 3/1/2023. The effects also could lead to the development of new conditions, such as diabetes or a heart or nervous . It isn't clear how long these effects might last. Honu also managed another COVID-19 test site in Dallas County that was sponsored by local officials and did not use NovaDX to process those results. The Texas Tribune has more. After review of these bids and responses to inquiries for clarification three . Thats my thing.. The state resumed work with NovaDX and has reported no issues since, but has not yet released its investigation report to The News. Fauci says if you dont get your results back within five days, it really becomes less valuable to contact trace, Jenkins said. A whistleblower alleged in 2017 that DA Medical Group representatives, including Thornton, had proposed a business arrangement: the doctors would receive a rebate for having patients prescriptions filled by Oregon pharmacies, according to Washington state investigative records obtained by The News. Honus CEO said the company was truthful in the application. Dr. Philip Huang, Dallas Countys health director, said given the new pandemic, there are few companies able to run these massive testing operations. In the rush, some untested companies are winning work in Texas and across the country. A statement from the mayors office Tuesday reads, We went ahead with the switch to a private vendor from the federal government because it would be father, so longer wait times are obviously not acceptable.. After learning of the states investigation involving tests results from Honus lab partner, The News began looking into the company. For now, Honu is still free to vie for millions of dollars in COVID testing contracts. For more help with the HONU results, email Covid19Help@honumg.com or call 844-778-2455. 12615 E. Mission Ave Ste #101, Spokane Valley, WA 99216. The city said Honu is meeting the obligations of the contract, including turning around test results quickly. If results will be delayed beyond four days, the Honu Help Center will contact you. Rocky Vaz, the citys director of emergency management, on Monday notified Honu Management Group that the city wanted the Washington state-based company to suspend testing Aug. 28. Thornton said the change came after parting ways with his former business partner. Honu Management Group, statewide, homebound; community mobile sites; neighborhood testing sites; seasonal agriculture; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $20,000,000. Covid-19 Testing | Honu MG | United States Providing effective and efficient management services that assist healthcare facilities and organizations by providing cost-effective solutions to both patients and the healthcare system. Thornton recently met with two News reporters and showed them around the University of Dallas testing site, where staff and contractors tested up to 500 people a day. Testing is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates and locations: For assistance regarding rural test results email help@txcovidtest.org or call 1 (833)213-0643. Test results will be sent via text or email within 48 hours from your test date. "Honu shadowed the National Guard at some testing events in early August," said Lynn Sutfin, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. He said the pharmacy that DA Medical worked with was billing patients through another pharmacy and that arrangement was not disclosed to him. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. A city spokeswoman said Honu was properly vetted as quickly as possible in what was a crisis. CareATC provided the staffing while Honu said it provided lab testing and protective gear. Those under the age of 18 will need a guardian's consent. Im not saying that a company that fails on a contract should be avoided and basically blackballed from ever getting contracts again, but you have to be very careful, Moulton said. W Z Ks/ d ] v P z } ( ] o ] ] o ] P ] o } ] Ks/ ] v P o ] ( } ( Z P X Title: Microsoft PowerPoint - Presentation1 Author: sarah Created Date: 11/30/2020 9:54:30 AM Washington state-based Honu Management is under scrutiny after failing to meet its COVID-19 testing contract within three days. We want them to be accurate and timely, Jenkins said. Dallas has canceled its $14 million contract with Honu. I do know that based on what Ive read that theres been an interest at the federal level on kickback schemes involving pharmacies across the nation, said Peterson. Honu partnered with one in the Austin area. They collected 36 samples. A new internal report by Dallas County's health department obtained by The News found that wait times for results from local Honu sites have increased markedly. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. After doing business as DA Medical Group for over a decade, the company rebranded as Honu in January. Honu began seeking publicly-funded testing contracts in the emerging world of COVID-19, stating the company could setup operations and deliver results faster than competitive bidders. We work in healthcare to make a difference, and we do it to provide a service the best we can to all people affected during these times.. Testing for a national. The second site run by the Texas Military Department Mobile Testing Team will be at the Eastside Sports. After the Dallas Morning News articles, the mayor of Dallas called for an audit into how the Honu contract was awarded. Get immediate access to organizations and people New Uvex Group jobs added daily. In Dallas, Texas officials "paused" a $14 million testing contract with Honu Management, of Spokane Valley, after the company failed to meet its contract requirement to turn around test. Vaz, the city emergency director, said no such disclosure was made during the reference-checking process, and only came to light after The News asked about it. We would not be in a position to make any announcements about the company itself, said Peterson, because Honu and DA Medical are not licensed healthcare facilities. LANSING, Mich. - Six contracts totaling nearly $60 million have been awarded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to the help improve COVID-19 vaccination access for high-risk populations and settings across Michigan. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. As KING 5 reported in November, three Seattle-area foot doctors are accused of over-prescribing medications and equipment to patients whose insurance companies were billed for the treatments. Nic Garcia writes about government and politics in North Texas, especially Dallas County. Honu won the $14 million contract less than two months ago, but questions arose about test security and timeliness earlier this summer. They will be phased in as needed as the National Guard is still providing testing assistance. A general rise in COVID-19 cases, as well as the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant in Livingston County, is prompting a drive-thru testing event this weekend. Now, Parkland Hospital will operate testing at the Eastfield College site, which Honu used to run. Honu promised results within 72 hours. Honu Management Group, statewide, homebound; community mobile sites; neighborhood testing sites; seasonal agriculture; and shelters and vulnerable populations - $20,000,000. That ensures the city is aware of any past problems and can talk through them with the vendor before making a decision. . Honu also answered questions from the countys health department about their testing capabilities, she said. In the first three weeks of July, it took about two days from the time patients got tested to when they received their results. Dallas County, meanwhile, has not paid any portion of its contract, said Darryl Martin, the countys administrator. Honu also said it provided lab testing, protective gear and patient monitoring for the Indian Health Services - Sioux Nation beginning in April. Sex. Honu is expected to ramp up its testing capability, and be able toperform anywhere from 1,000-4,000 tests statewide per day inplaceslikenursing homes andlong-term care facilities, adult foster care homes as well as prisons, jails and homeless shelters, food processing facilities and housing formigrant workers. Washingtonians weigh in on recent efforts to limit insulin costs, Winner of $754.6 million Powerball jackpot's identity revealed, Portions of western Washington under Winter Weather Advisory overnight, accuses Thornton and others at DA Medical of orchestrating a kickback. . Testing for a national healthcare company. Get Results with . Honu CEO Devin Thornton could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Thornton and Anderson both told The News there is no conflict of interest because Dallas is not using NovaDX as the lab for its contract with the city. The county also found that on average, it took residents 3.3 days to get their results from the University of Dallas. It made us ask more questions about just who is this company? Hacker said. CS210403013 WellHealth Management State and Community-Based COVID-19 Testing QVL Purchasing has awarded twenty (20) contracts to labs for COVID-19 Testing. A Dallas Morning News investigation earlier this month found that the city missed potential warning flags in Honus application. In most cases, lab test results delivery times should not exceed two weeks. The company was testing up to 500 people per day. Open Form. The number of active COVID cases has also continued to rise. Every single penny I have ever made in this company has always gone back into healthcare, whether thats supporting clinics, or supporting patients or getting patients treated at the lowest possible cost. You cannot use this service to report results from a. At a meeting Tuesday, county commissioners raised concern with lack of oversight. State and local governments everywhere have been screaming throughout this whole pandemic, absent a comprehensive national testing program, this is whats happening, said Dallas Morning News reporter Holly Hacker, who first linked Honus management team to DA Medical Group and its spotty history. Antrim County was reporting 2,975 cases and 45 deaths while Charlevoix County had 3,180 cases and 45 deaths. . Texas became the fourth state to surpass 10,000 deaths on Monday, joining New Jersey, New York, and California. And any stamp of White House approval seems to have never materialized. Or, for all other COVID-19 questions or concerns, call 88-217-3904, email covid@dhd10.org or visit www.dhd10.org/schedule.. Last month The News reported on potential. Hacker says the city and county showed little concern when she first told city and county about Honu managements history in Washington state. Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Rodney Bordeaux said he doesnt recall that any had symptoms. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? Last week, The Big Bend Sentinel reported that the Washington State-based company was taking over testing sites from the National Guard after scoring a contract from the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Eight billboards display photos from Weems archive along with English and Spanish messages about the virus, KERA reports. People getting tested in Dallas are waiting longer to get their results, despite a 40 percent drop in people getting tested. Honu won the contract through a competitive bidding process run through the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget, Sutfin said. Sioux Nation is not the name of any federally recognized tribe and more than a dozen have Sioux in the name, according to the Indian Health Service. State fines United Shore, 5 other businesses for coronavirus-related violations, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "Providing mobile and other community-based vaccination services will help ensure high-risk individuals have access to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. Inflammation and problems with the immune system can also happen. The city and county announced that after June 30 the American Airlines Center site would move to the University of Dallas in Irving, with Honu taking over operations and projecting a faster turnaround time. MARQUETTE COVID-19 testing sites at several local sites have been announced. Peterson points out that DA Medical and Devin Thornton are not the targets of the Department of Health's investigation, since the agency is only authorized to investigate licensed, medical professionals. Healthcare is not something we take lightly. Martin said he would provide an update to commissioners next month. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Parkland has played a role in public testing, usually working with other agencies, including the federal government. The second omicron variant comes into focus. I dont understand. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? Introduction. Honubeatout four othercompanies for the deal: CVS Pharmacy, Inc.; AKESOgen,Inc.;Premier Medical Laboratory Services, Inc., andATC Healthcare Services, LLC. The newspaper reports the decision confirmed by a spokesman for Mayor Eric Johnson came after city and county officials began investigating Honu Management Groups performance and how it won the $14 million contract when it began running a drive through testing site July 1 in Irving. In May, the city asked Honu for additional references to show the company could handle a bigger job, Thornton said. When the tribe used the kits to test 61 frontline workers, over half came back positive, sending a panic through our tribe, health director Skyla Fast Horse said. 1:18. V9A}A|Rzk9X]Yd\ M#F4$A|fQ $K>1mVK)7t*47qE_)ayM 6+(Q ofsy!~%z_emdyrV5Bhz\ 7BxogcR?IXWV1lOI%1!q'VA!1wyBY_]~q@g{18~y_rzS|-$#[l7H ql%;DGoH,Zv. Direct Patient lines are open: 8:30am to 7:00pm Monday through Friday 8:30am - Noon on Saturdays. All rights reserved. Thornton said that once notified of the issue, DA Medical did its own investigation, fired the pharmacy it had worked with, and is cooperating with state investigators. The aim of this study was to establish practical recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of influenza-associated invasive aspergillosis (IAPA) based on the available evidence and experience acquired in the management of patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). Leaders of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, in South Dakota, told The News they bought 615 test kits from Honu in late April for more than $88,000. hbbd``b`$ @%$D0t $t_ $$nL I#3|0 : When she did get her results 10 days later, they were rejected, meaning the test was unable to determine whether she had coronavirus. It moved this month to Eastfield College in Mesquite. The department has released the following: Six contracts totaling nearly $60 million have been . There was tremendous increase in the number of cases of mucormycosis among patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the second wave of pandemic in South Asian countries. This is definitely not a case I would categorize as standard, said department Assistant Secretary Kristin Peterson, who runs the Health Systems Quality Assurance program. With one of them, at the American Airlines Center, set to close at the end of June, local officials said they needed a contractor who could take over the massive operation, from staffing the site and swabbing patients to testing the specimens and notifying people of their results. The change takes effect Aug. 28 at Dallas College Eastfield Campus in Mesquite, Jenkins said. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering at the center. It breaks my heart when people try to abuse the system that is designed for patient care, Thornton said. As far as Im concerned, I dont care if it was the University of Dallas or Mountain View, they have not performed, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said Tuesday during the commissioners meeting. Nic Garcia, Senior writer. He previously worked at The Denver Post covering the statehouse and two presidential campaigns. The contract with Hanu (sic) is being cancelled, Jenkins wrote. There's a new coronavirus-testing company in town, and it isn't Honu Management Group. Honolulu Fire Department will be conducting drive-thru COVID-19 testing location on the west side of Oahu, beginning Sunday, Sept. 19, providing free COVID-19 tests in the parking lot area of the .