President Biden’s discretionary funding request offers a blueprint for Congress to build on the successes of the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and complement the goals of the President’s infrastructure proposal, the American Jobs Plan. The President believes now is the time to build on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and improve the public health infrastructure.
While the FAQs have always said that there would be some sort of reconciliation process at the end, the updated FAQs set a different tone with a focus on accountability for use of funds and stress an enforcement of the requirements. Although HHS has not set a reporting deadline yet, providers should be preparing, to the degree possible, for this inevitability when the reporting portal will open to submit reports. This includes ensuring that they have documentation for their coronavirus expenses and plan for calculating lost revenue.
The range of need among the not-for-profit providers varies from as little as $10,000 for an adult day services program to as much as $20 million for a full continuum aging services provider delivering services in multiple states. And yet, if the adult day service program closes because it doesn’t receive funds, it may impact fewer people but the effect will still be profound for those families struggling to care for their loved ones with dementia, while trying to hold down a job.
The Medicare Accelerated and Advanced payment program is a tool that CMS can use to offer to increased cash flow to providers whether due to a disruption in claims processing or due to public health or other emergencies. CMS began offering this option to providers related to the COVID-19 emergency and the terms of the program were expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Our approach begins with providers—thousands of people working at life plan communities, assisted living, memory care, nursing homes, adult day centers, PACE programs, home care and hospice agencies, and other settings on the front lines of care and services. We host LeadingAge Town Hall Conversations across the country, listening to members’ policy challenges and considering solutions together. These sessions, held virtually in 2020, were deeply colored by the battle aging services providers are waging with COVID.
The Medicare Part B Calculator is updated with calendar year 2021 rates, including the changes due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 which came after the publication of the final rule. You can download the excel tool here.
November NHIC incentive payments were sent to providers beginning the week of January 25 and December payments began arriving on February 12. HHS did not issue a press statement or provide any advanced information about these distributions.
Below is LeadingAge’s analysis of the published information.
For November performance (NHSN data for Nov. 2 – Nov. 29, 2020):
On February 5, the House and Senate passed a Budget Resolution authorizing $1.9 Trillion for COVID-19 relief and directing the committees of jurisdiction to develop the substantive legislation needed to implement the resolution. We anticipate fast action, as House committees release their proposed bills and begin the process of preparing them for votes this week. Senate action is expected in the next couple of weeks, with a final bill by mid-March.
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