Biden Administration Commits $650 Million to Ramping up Production of Rapid COVID-19 Tests
- November 12, 2021
The Biden Administration announced November 10 that it will devote another $650 million in American Rescue Plan funding to boost domestic manufacturing capacity for rapid diagnostic tests for COVID-19 that can be used to confirm at-home test results.
The administration in recent weeks has moved to increase access and affordability of COVID-19 testing, particularly rapid tests that consumers can use at home. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) aims to quadruple the supply of home tests by year’s end. The latest infusion of funds will help meet the associated need for follow-up testing in hospitals, urgent care facilities, pharmacies, and other health care settings for those consumers who receive a positive test.
The funding will also support purchasing raw materials and finished tests to increase domestic supply of diagnostic tests, HHS said.