OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Several organizations backed a complaint filed against Test Nebraska for not being available to all Nebraskans.
The Center for Public Representation says people who don’t have a car and no one to take them, can't get a test through Test Nebraska.
KMTV called Test Iowa and TestNebraska to ask them what people are supposed to do if they're sick and don't have a vehicle.
"The only thing they're telling us to do is ask a friend or somebody," said one operator. "I did have a guy call an Uber, but I told him to be sure to let him know what he was getting himself into."
If you don't, your options are limited through TestNebraska. As for Test Iowa, Wyant says it isn't much better.
"Our clinic sites you certainly can call them to see if they will take you without a car," an operator said.
KMTV called all the clinic site numbers listed on testiowa.com. Four did not require a car.
Officials at the test site in Page County said they could make an exception to patients without a car, if they really needed a test. Page County is more than an hour's drive from Pottawatomie County.
"We've always found that transportation is one of the biggest barriers to people being able to receive the care that they need or access to it," said Matt Wyant, Pottawatomie Co. Planning and Development.
Wyant says Pottawatomie County and All Care Health Center are trying to get Test Iowa to help them create a mobile coronavirus testing service.
"What the hope is that All Care will then be able to go out on site and conduct that test and just expand our reach in the community."
Wyant says they have had a few conversations with Governor Reynolds' office, but they are still trying to get more answers on how to execute the plan.
"PPE is obviously a big concern though through this whole thing," Wyant said. "Making sure they were able to have a steady stream of PPE, and then it was testing supplies as well. How do the testing supplies get delivered to them. Who's going to pick them up and take them to the state laboratory, getting those transportation routes put into place. Those were kind of our two big ones."
One concern is you will spread the virus to someone if you are riding with them to get tests. Wyant says if we want to truly flatten the curve, we need to make sure everyone who needs a test can get one.
"I don't think I have a good answer for this one," an operator says. "I mean you could. That's a complicated question."
Another issue with Test Iowa and TestNebraska is that you need the internet in order to fill out the online assessment. Wyant says All Care has the ability to fill out the questionnaire for people over the phone.