LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Law enforcement is investigating several pop-up coronavirus test sites in Louisville that the Metro Council president called “scams,” The Courier Journal reports.
The sites, which have been at various locations including outside churches and a gas station, are operated by medical marketing companies and charge around $200 per test. They are being promoted on local television, and some doctors are referring patients to them. But government officials are advising residents to avoid the sites.
Jean Porter, spokeswoman for Mayor Greg Fischer’s office, said police are investigating after the city received calls about multiple pop-up testing sites. Metro Council President David James told The Courier Journal on Wednesday that the tests are scams.
Edward Beighley is president of BCK Marketing, which runs a testing station that was operating earlier this week at Sojourn Church Midtown. He said they were using telehealth to connect customers with three doctors. If the doctors decided someone’s symptoms warranted testing, the tests would be sent via FedEx to two labs in California. He said the tests cost $200 and include testing for 19 other pathogens.
Beighley said he was interviewed by an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday.
“It’s a slap in the face,” said Beighley, who had an email indicating the city provided guidance to him about health reporting requirements. Beighley said no one told him to stop testing.
Another site was being run by Community Outreach Marketing LLC. Company President Kamau Mason said the tests cost $200 and results are promised in 24 hours.
“We’ve been around in the community, not just Kentucky, but various states around the U.S. We are providing testing to those whose insurance qualifies,” Mason said.
City spokeswoman Jessica Wethington said they are advising residents for now to seek testing from “hospitals, health care providers or government resources.”
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Please read our comment policy before commenting.