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Kroger does its part for federal ‘Test to Treat’ COVID care program

The Little Clinic offers antiviral prescriptions to patients with positive test results

Russell Redman

May 2, 2022

2 Min Read
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Kroger Health is providing Test to Treat access for those with COVID symptoms via The Little Clinic locations and telehealth services.Kroger

Kroger Health, the health care arm of The Kroger Co., is participating in the Biden administration’s “Test to Treat” initiative to expedite care for patients exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

Under the program, patients with a positive COVID reading from a Food and Drug Administration-authorized at-home test can receive a COVID antiviral prescription (including Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Molnupiravir) at any of the 225 The Little Clinic locations in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Virginia, Kroger Health said Friday. The prescriptions can be filled at a Kroger or other pharmacy. To access the service at The Little Clinic, patients schedule an appointment at kroger.com/health/clinic and select “COVID Viral Test (Test Active Infection)” as the reason for their visit.

Launched in March by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Test to Treat is designed to provide quick access to free treatment for COVID-19. Through this program, people can get tested and — if the results are positive and treatments are appropriate for them — receive a prescription from a health care provider and have their prescription filled, all at one location. HHS said these “One-Stop Test to Treat” sites are available at hundreds of locations nationwide, including pharmacy-based clinics, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)-supported federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) and long-term care facilities.

Related:Stop & Shop rolls out COVID-19 antivirals to N.Y. pharmacies

Cincinnati-based Kroger Health noted that Test to Treat also is available across all 50 U.S. states via The Little Clinic telehealth services, helping patients with transportation or other access barriers. Patients showing COVID symptoms or concerned with exposure to the virus may use any of the 13 FDA-authorized at-home tests available to participate in an observed self-test with a medical professional. After a positive test, The Little Clinic will provide an antiviral prescription or, if results are negative, the patient will be provided a treatment plan according to the diagnosis. Patients can schedule a telehealth appointment online at kroger.com/health/pharmacy/covid-19-treatment, where they select “COVID Virtual Visit” from the scheduler. Those making an appointment must acquire one of the authorized home test kits in advance. Kroger Health said most of the test kits available for online order and delivery.

COVID-19 therapeutics are available at all Kroger Co. pharmacies, according to Kroger Health, which noted that the antiviral treatments may reduce the severity of symptoms and risk of death from infection. Kroger said the U.S. COVID-19 Therapeutic Locator updates regularly when locations have product on site.

Related:Walmart to offer COVID-19 antiviral prescriptions

“We understand Americans are tired of this virus and its impact on our lives. We are all eager to move forward,” Dr. Marc Watkins, chief medical officer for Kroger, said in a statement. “However, we owe it to our families, friends and communities to get tested if symptomatic and seek treatment when appropriate. As always, receiving the manufacturer-recommended doses required for full vaccination and booster doses recommended by age and condition remain our most effective tools in controlling the spread of the disease.” Kroger reported that, to date, it has administered 11 million COVID vaccinations.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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