For speedy launch: July 28, 2022 (22-113)
Contact: DOH Communications
OLYMPIA – To improve obtain to possibly existence-preserving medicine to handle COVID-19, the Washington State Division of Overall health (DOH) and its companions have released a new telehealth selection for patients. The new option expands the Federal government’s Check to Address initiative and presents people at hazard of extreme disease an additional way to speedily entry absolutely free treatment for COVID-19.
Until eventually now, telehealth for COVID-19 has only been accessible to insured individuals who obtain care through a wellbeing treatment company that gives telehealth visits. This new plan would make telehealth consultations for COVID-19 offered to everyone, regardless of coverage standing, with no out-of-pocket charges.
“At DOH, we price fairness and innovation, and have embraced those values through our COVID-19 response,” reported Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “Ensuring that we can equitably hook up communities with therapeutics is pivotal so that we can carry on our mission of decreasing unwanted loss of life from this condition.”
DOH encourages persons who take a look at good for COVID-19 to go over remedy selections with their primary overall health care supplier. In scenarios where by this could not be possible, absolutely free telehealth consultations are a further solution that can make it even less difficult to entry therapies for COVID-19. People today who examination constructive for COVID-19, together with with a self-check, can consult with a wellness treatment company using a smartphone or computer system with a superior-pace world-wide-web connection.
If acceptable, they can obtain a free of charge prescription for pick-up at the closest pharmacy that has the oral antivirals or have their medicine delivered. Extra than 1,000 web-sites are out there throughout the point out. This telehealth services is at this time offered by DOH in collaboration with companions, such as Birds Eye Clinical and Coloration Overall health.
There are two solutions to set up a telehealth appointment – possibly by viewing DOH’s new telehealth webpage or by contacting the DOH COVID-19 connect with centre. Those fascinated in signing up just about can finish a temporary consumption sort on DOH’s new telehealth webpage. If the details provided signifies treatment may perhaps be correct, the affected person will be linked almost with a wellbeing care provider for a session. Telehealth companies are offered every single working day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
People interested can organize an appointment by phone by contacting the DOH COVID-19 get in touch with heart at 1–800–525–0127 and press #. The contact centre is accessible to arrange telehealth consultations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays by means of Sundays and point out holiday seasons.
Telehealth appointments are currently accessible in 240 languages through translation solutions. Men and women intrigued in acquiring a telehealth appointment in a language other than English really should arrange an appointment through the DOH COVID-19 connect with center.
A single of the most efficient COVID-19 treatments is Paxlovid, an oral antiviral drug that decreases the hazard of hospitalization by about 90 percent. Oral antivirals like Paxlovid are only readily available by prescription and need to be commenced within five days of initial symptoms to reduce intense ailment and hospitalization from COVID-19.
“Our purpose is for all eligible sufferers at significant threat for severe sickness to have equitable access to everyday living-conserving COVID-19 solutions,” explained Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, MPH, Chief Science Officer. “We’re energized to make this service free of charge to anyone with no out of pocket charges so that even people with no insurance plan will be able to access antiviral medicines. And by presenting telehealth consultations in many languages, the software improves accessibility for non-English speakers as well.”
Oral antivirals are an crucial procedure for men and women who are at high danger of hospitalization. Men and women at superior hazard contain those people 65 years outdated or more mature, overweight, expecting, have long-term health care problems these kinds of as coronary heart, lung, or kidney ailment, or people who are taking immunosuppressant therapies. Youngsters as younger as 12 many years aged with specific chronic circumstances and who weigh at minimum 88 kilos, might also be qualified for antiviral cure. Find out extra about what may perhaps place people at higher risk for COVID-19.
Stop by the Washington Condition Office of Health’s web-site for much more info on COVID-19 solutions and info for wellness treatment companies.
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