COVID-19: Community Testing Support Program
The Department of Health Services’ (DHS) COVID-19 Community Testing Support Program (CTSP) works in partnership with community-based organizations, local and Tribal health departments, and health care providers across the state to increase access to COVID-19 testing by supporting local, convenient COVID-19 testing sites.
The last day of state-funded testing in DHS COVID-19 CTSP will be April 15, 2023. COVID-19 testing remains available through at-home testing, health care providers, and community testing locations which will continue to be updated regularly on the DHS Test Map.
Program summary
The CTSP supports organizations across the state in offering local, convenient COVID-19 testing. The program provides $30 per antigen swab to approved CTSP partners that conduct COVID-19 testing (for example, specimen collection and result communication) in community-based settings. This program also provides $30 payments to approved partners that conduct COVID-19 antigen testing in outbreak-based settings and in high-risk congregate settings, as coordinated through DHS and local and Tribal health services.
The program currently reimburses approved organizations $20 per swab for the provision of PCR testing.
CTSP update
CTSP will be shifting to an antigen-first test model which will prioritize the use of proctored, point-of-care (POC) antigen tests to provide rapid results to individuals accessing testing services at these sites across the state. The purpose of this shift is to provide more rapid test results, and to ensure testing availability at state-supported CTSP sites in the event of a COVID-19 surge and to meet community need, with an emphasis on underserved areas. This testing and reimbursement model follows CDC antigen testing recommendations with PCR testing available when confirmatory testing is needed. This model supports testing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals when following guidelines laid out for the test in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization.
Sites will be supported in preparing for this shift in September 2022. Sites that have completed training will begin using this model on October 1, 2022. The program is expected to continue through June 2023, pending funding and supplies availability.
CTSP partners will need a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) Certificate of Waiver to proctor antigen tests. Sample collection reimbursement will increase to $30 per swab. Partners are strongly encouraged to utilize state-supported software, but that is not a requirement as long as the resulting and reporting requirements are met.
CTSP partners will be responsible for:
- Administering proctored antigen tests
- Administering confirmatory PCR tests consistent with the identified testing model
- Interpreting and providing test results to patients, and
- Reporting positive and negative antigen test results to the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS)
More information about CTSP
CTSP partners will be responsible for interpreting and providing results to patients at all CTSP sites. CTSP participants will be reimbursed for sample collection for proctored POC antigen and PCR testing performed at community test sites at the following allowances:
- POC antigen sample collection and resulting for asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals will be reimbursed at a total rate of $20 per specimen.
- Confirmatory PCR sample collection will be reimbursed at the rate of $20 per specimen for symptomatic individuals who test negative on POC antigen test.
- If a CTSP partner provides both POC antigen and PCR confirmatory testing, PCR confirmatory testing must align with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidance for symptomatic individuals to be eligible for reimbursement (see above).
- CTSP partners must document the number of individuals who have qualified for confirmatory PCR testing. Duplicate swabbing (conducting both POC antigen and PCR testing at the same time) outside of the established algorithm for symptomatic individuals is not allowed.
- CTSP invoicing for sample collection reimbursement for PCR and POC antigen testing will be required monthly and must be submitted to the DHS COVID Testing Program using the DHS provided template or other invoice format that includes, at a minimum, the following information:
- CTSP partner legal name (from Tax ID)
- CTSP partner business address
- CTSP partner contact name
- CTSP partner contact phone
- Invoice month
- Invoice number
- Purchase order (P.O.) number
- Date(s) testing occurred
- Address where testing services occurred
- Daily count of POC antigen tests administered
- Daily count of PCR tests administered
- Cumulative total POC antigen tests administered with subsequent billed amounts
- Cumulative total PCR tests administered with subsequent billed amounts
| Item | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Inform DHS of interest in continuing with the CTSP. After notice, CTSP staff will provide information on training, CLIA Certificates of Waiver, ordering supplies, and answer any questions. | As soon as possible, but no later than September 15 to ensure rollover is complete ahead of October 1 |
| Ensure you have a valid CLIA Waiver and provide that number to the CTSP | Prior to proctoring tests |
| Ensure you have completed training for state-supported software programs (if applicable) | Prior to proctoring tests |
| Prepare your testing space for antigen testing | Prior to proctoring tests |
| Order antigen test supplies | After completing technological training |
| Start antigen testing and report results (positive and negative) | After completing all the above |
To assist partners with this transition, DHS has compiled a list of resources to meet the new requirements. Questions about these requirements can be directed to the Community Testing Support Program Team.
Obtaining a CLIA Certificate of Waiver
To apply for a CLIA visit:
- Read the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid publication regarding How to Obtain a CLIA Certificate of Waiver (PDF)
- For questions, please contact the DHS Bureau of Quality Assurance
- View video on CLIA Waiver instruction
Onboarding and training using state-sponsored software programs
Once you indicate interest in continuing as a CTSP site, a representative from the DHS team will provide training instructions and links.
The software training is short and may be done fully online. Partners must complete this training before shifting to the new POC proctored antigen model to ensure appropriate results reporting.
If you are not currently registered to use state-supported software and would like to convert to using that software, please inform DHS at the time you indicate your interest in continuing as a CTSP partner.
Setting up a safe area for proctored antigen testing
Ordering antigen testing supplies
Reporting positive and negative proctored antigen test results
Partners will be required to report negative and positive results for reimbursement purposes to Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
- COVID-19 Requirements for Testing Providers: When planning to provide COVID-19 testing services in Wisconsin, there are some important steps you will need to take
- COVID-19 Certification, Testing, and Result Reporting: Recorded presentation by Angela Mack, DHS Division of Quality Assurance, and Dr. Alana Sterkel, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) webpage
- How to Obtain a CLIA Certificate of Waiver: (PDF) Guide from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Department of Health and Human Services
- Ready? Set? Test!: (PDF) CDC guidance booklet on performing waived laboratory testing
- Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care and Rapid Testing: CDC guidance on COVID-19 testing
- Web-Based Laboratory Reporting: (PDF) Instructions from DHS on how to set a web-based laboratory reporting (WLR) account