Indiana is centralizing the COVID-19 contact tracing process. Up until now, it’s often been up to county health departments to contact those who test positive, ask them about potential close contacts, and then reach out to those people. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box announced Wednesday that the state is contracting with a company called Maximus to launch a statewide call center and notification system.
She said those who test positive will get an email and text message asking them to call. “When the individual calls in, our centralized call center, which Maximus will be staffing for us, will complete the initial phone interview, identify the contacts that need to be notified, and then send a text or an email to each of those contacts,” Box explained. “If the COVID-positive individual does not call within four hours, we will begin to call the patient.”
Box said each phone interview typically takes one to two hours, and each case will often have about 10 additional contacts that need to be notified. She said that centralizing the process will free up local health departments to connect patients with local resources and focus on their non-COVID duties.
The new call center should launch around May 11. At least 500 workers are expected to be hired. State officials stress that case investigators will never ask residents for Social Security numbers, money, or financial information.
Box said the contract with Maximus is still being finalized, but it’s expected to cost about $43 million a year. She explained that the company was chosen from a list of seven that the state invited to submit proposals.
