On July 28, 2022, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced the launch of a new telehealth option to make free COVID-19-related telehealth consultations available to everyone, regardless of insurance status. This effort is intended to increase accessibility to no-cost COVID-19 treatments for individuals at risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
This initiative is an expansion of the Federal government’s Test to Treat program, which previously allowed COVID-19-related telehealth services to insured patients through a health care provider.
In the DOH news release announcing this expansion, Washington State Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH shared, “At DOH, we value equity and innovation, and have embraced those values throughout our COVID-19 response… Ensuring that we can equitably connect communities with therapeutics is pivotal so that we can continue our mission of reducing unnecessary death from this disease.”
Those who test positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to talk to their primary health care provider about treatment options. In situations where this is not possible, these free telehealth consultations are now available. If appropriate, free prescription pick-up or delivery is available at nearby pharmacies that have oral antivirals.
Telehealth providers are available every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Telehealth appointments can be booked by visiting DOH’s new telehealth webpage and filling out a brief intake form or by calling the DOH COVID-19 call center at 1–800–525–0127 during call center hours. The COVID-19 call center is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST on Mondays, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST Tuesday through Sunday and observed state holidays.
Through the COVID-19 call center, telehealth appointments are available in over 240 languages through translation services.
For more information about free telehealth services for COVID-19 treatment, visit the DOH telehealth webpage.