To better address health disparities for communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and support those with barriers to accessing related therapeutic care, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has launched the COVID-19 Test to Treat Equity Grant Program. COVID-19 treatment greatly reduces risk of hospitalization and death for those who have COVID-19, but many communities still are not able to access these life-saving medications.

The program will be administered by Physicians for a Healthy California, and overseen by CDPH and an advisory committee comprised of state health partners.

By engaging with safety net providers, CDPH expects more than 300 providers will create expedited access to COVID-19 treatment to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

“Nearly three years into this pandemic, we now have more tools than ever before to protect ourselves against death and hospitalization from COVID-19, including effective vaccines, access to testing, and highly effective drugs,” said Tomás J. Aragón, M.D., CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “These grants are an important component to the state’s COVID-19 SMARTER Plan and will support more equitable access to COVID-19 treatment, particularly in those communities that continue to face difficulty accessing these life-saving medications.”

CDPH encourages all organizations eligible for a grant to apply which includes:

• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and FQHC Look-alikes 
• Community clinics, rural health clinics, free clinics 
• Indian Health Service (IHS)/Tribal Health Clinics 
• Clinics operated by county or city health systems or public health systems
• Providers not listed above but are recommended by their Health Department

A subset of grantees will also receive technical assistance and monthly coaching from the Center for Care Innovations. More information and application materials are available at phcdocs.org/t2t

The COVID-19 Test to Treat Equity Grant Program was created as part of California’s SMARTER Plan, with the goal of further increasing access for Californians in underserved communities to vital therapeutic treatment that helps lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

The program’s first application cycle run from August 31 - September 30, 2022. CDPH has allocated approximately $59 million for the Test-to-Treat Equity Grant Program through June 2023.

For more information, visit phcdocs.org/t2t or email t2t@phcdocs.org.