What is the nationwide cost to test every nursing home resident and staff for COVID-19?

Posted: May 20, 2020 / 11:37 AM CDT / Updated: May 20, 2020 / 01:32 PM CDT

FILE – In this April 10, 2020, file image made from video, a lab technician dips a sample into the Abbott Laboratories ID Now testing machine at the Detroit Health Center in Detroit. Federal health officials are warning about potential accuracy problems with the rapid test for COVID-19 used at thousands of hospitals, clinics and testing sites across the U.S., including the White House. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)– It’s no secret that many nursing homes across the nation are struggling to keep coronavirus outside of their facilities. In fact, over half of Acadiana’s COVID-19 deaths are nursing home residents.

The estimated cost to test every nursing home resident and staff just once would cost $440 million nationwide, according to American Health Care Association and National Center of Assisted Living.

In Louisiana alone, the total cost for these tests would be near $8,000,000.

AHCA/NCAL says the CDC’s recent recommendation to test all nursing home staff weekly would cost more than $1 billion every month.

“For months now, we have been advocating for expanded and priority testing in nursing homes to protect our residents and caregivers, but this is a significant undertaking and cost for nursing homes to shoulder on their own. That’s why we have asked HHS to grant our request for a $10 billion emergency relief to help fund expedited testing and the additional staffing needed to respond to this unprecedented health crisis.”
Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of American Health Care Association and National Center of Assisted Living

Below is a state by state breakdown of what it would cost to test every U.S. nursing home resident and staff once:

State	# of Nursing Facilities¹	# of Nursing Home Residents¹	# of Nursing Home Staff²	Total # of Tests	Total Cost³
NATIONWIDE	15,429	1,327,678	1,603,800	2,931,478	$439,721,700
AK	19	682	N/A	N/A	N/A
AL	228	22,962	27,350	50,312	$7,546,800
AR	226	17,465	22,380	39,845	$5,976,750
AZ	146	11,965	16,180	28,145	$4,221,750
CA	1,193	103,480	139,060	242,540	$36,381,000
CO	227	16,796	20,330	37,126	$5,568,900
CT	215	22,156	32,550	54,706	$8,205,900
DC	18	2,319	2,720	5,039	$755,850
DE	46	4,175	4,760	8,935	$1,340,250
FL	701	73,312	95,390	168,702	$25,305,300
GA	358	33,387	33,720	67,107	$10,066,050
HI	44	3,647	4,550	8,197	$1,229,550
IA	434	23,170	28,440	51,610	$7,741,500
ID	82	4,178	5,260	9,438	$1,415,700
IL	722	66,081	76,860	142,941	$21,441,150
IN	534	39,004	47,770	86,774	$13,016,100
KS	331	17,021	17,890	34,911	$5,236,650
KY	285	22,902	27,290	50,192	$7,528,800
LA	278	26,137	26,880	53,017	$7,952,550
MA	376	37,577	49,860	87,437	$13,115,550
MD	226	23,861	29,010	52,871	$7,930,650
ME	93	5,856	8,410	14,266	$2,139,900
MI	442	38,099	44,100	82,199	$12,329,850
MN	368	24,065	42,260	66,325	$9,948,750
MO	522	38,202	44,400	82,602	$12,390,300
MS	204	15,915	18,010	33,925	$5,088,750
MT	71	3,955	5,270	9,225	$1,383,750
NC	428	36,630	44,840	81,470	$12,220,500
ND	80	5,341	9,570	14,911	$2,236,650
NE	201	11,029	14,500	25,529	$3,829,350
NH	74	6,476	6,590	13,066	$1,959,900
NJ	363	43,315	47,410	90,725	$13,608,750
NM	71	5,681	6,860	12,541	$1,881,150
NV	66	5,842	7,360	13,202	$1,980,300
NY	619	104,383	121,990	226,373	$33,955,950
OH	957	72,115	94,220	166,335	$24,950,250
OK	298	18,268	20,410	38,678	$5,801,700
OR	130	7,352	11,950	19,302	$2,895,300
PA	695	75,847	72,350	148,197	$22,229,550
RI	80	7,721	9,920	17,641	$2,646,150
SC	191	17,053	19,200	36,253	$5,437,950
SD	105	5,646	7,170	12,816	$1,922,400
TN	316	27,164	33,760	60,924	$9,138,600
TX	1,219	93,561	99,780	193,341	$29,001,150
UT	99	5,723	9,360	15,083	$2,262,450
VA	287	28,205	29,790	57,995	$8,699,250
VT	36	2,448	3,720	6,168	$925,200
WA	206	15,628	21,290	36,918	$5,537,700
WI	359	22,043	29,420	51,463	$7,719,450
WV	123	9,519	9,350	18,869	$2,830,350
WY	37	2,319	2,070	4,389	$658,350

¹Census Data
²Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment – Nursing Facilities (May 2019)
³Estimated cost of $150 per test
* Note: Does not include cost of testing for assisted living or other long-term care facilities