Health Mart pharmacies launch COVID-19 test collection sites

Health Mart is stepping up to help people in rural areas get tested for COVID-19. Health Mart pharmacies will offer free COVID-19 test collection beginning this week in select pharmacies across the United States.

Health Mart said that 60% of Health Mart pharmacies serve low-income neighborhoods, a key reason for their partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide testing to the public free of charge.

All Health Mart coronavirus test collection sites can be found here. The new online portal helps patients make test collection appointments at a nearby location after answering a few simple questions about symptoms.

Participating Health Mart pharmacies will provide curbside or drive-thru testing options from the safety of a patient’s car. Some locations will provide walk-up testing. The test is self-administered by the patient with a nasal swab and once the sample kit is sealed, Health Mart staff submit the package to the lab for processing. Results are ready in three to five business days.

“We need widespread coronavirus testing now. We all want life to return to normal and one way to help is more COVID-19 testing, even in rural areas. We’re proud to serve our community in these efforts to fight this virus,” said Nancy Lyons, chief pharmacist for Health Mart. “Our fearless pharmacists and healthcare heroes are here for you through the coronavirus pandemic.”

Health Mart pharmacies will provide appointment-based, curbside COVID-19 test collection for pre-screened individuals. Some of the pharmacies offering coronavirus test collection, include:

• Lifeline Baltimore Pharmacy, Baltimore, Md.
• Gristedes Supermarkets Pharmacy, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Renue Rx in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas

• OK’Care Pharmacy, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Hayat Pharmacy, Milwaukee, Wis.

• Apollo Specialty Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pa.

• Grubb’s Southeast, Grubb’s of DC and Morgan Care Pharmacy, Wash., DC

The website infrastructure for DoINeedACovid19Test.com and laboratory services are provided by eTrueNorth, a contractor of HHS.