The Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs are temporary loans to help providers with cash flow issues in an emergency. They require repayment which is different than the funds being distributed through the Provider Relief Fund being administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. LeadingAge has heard from many members receiving funding through the Provider Relief Fund distributions but few who are participating in the Accelerated and Advanced Payment Programs.
This year’s proposed rules reflect primarily minimal and required annual changes to the SNF PPS rates and related regulations. Given that overall the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) will be entering its second year, CMS continues to monitor the impacts of the new payment system and seeks feedback from stakeholders on “any observations or information” they have related to the impact of PDPM on providers or patient care. However, CMS noted that adjustments or recalibrations may be made in future rulemaking to ensure budget neutrality is achieved by the PDPM case-mix weights.
This second tranche of funding will begin rolling into provider bank accounts starting April 24 and be distributed in the following allocations:
On April 16, both HUD and the IRS announced new guidance related to the stimulus checks of $1,200 received by individuals.
HUD clarifies handling of stimulus checks for income calculations
HUD updated their COVID-19 FAQs for Multifamily Housing providers to state that the stimulus checks, and the enhanced unemployment insurance assistance, should not be counted toward income. LeadingAge had urged the agency to issue guidance for affordable housing providers who calculate rent amounts and housing program eligibility based on a resident’s income.
For those providers who have questions about the funds they received or have not yet received funds, HHS has two options for getting answers:
Rural Development issued expanded FAQs on April 13th for rural housing providers managing COVID-19 preparation and response at their communities. The updates cover how to handle non-traditional tenant income, like COVID-19 unemployment payments and hazard pay, and flexibilities for over-income households to remain in their units. The FAQs also outline options for managers and residents around delaying move-ins due to COVID-19 concerns and managing waitlists accordingly. Lastly, the guidance discusses forbearance options and access to SBA loans.
As of March 18, HUD has restarted routine processing and approval of Section 202 PRAC rent adjustments to increase Reserve for Replacement deposits. Budget-Based Rent Increase (BBRI) requests were temporarily suspended by HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing in July of 2019 following escalating subsidy requirements that strained the program’s annual budget.
Environmental Review Requirements for RAD Transactions
In January 2020, HUD published updates to a document titled “Environmental Review Procedures for Rad Transactions.” The resource was originally published in 2014 and outlines how to perform environmental reviews for the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD).
On March 13, HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing announced a national call to answer questions from housing providers struggling to navigate COVID-19 in HUD-assisted housing. Lamar Seats, the MFH Deputy Assistant Secretary, will host the call.
Contact: Lisa Sanders
202-508-9407 lsanders@leadingage.org
March 13, 2020 Washington D.C. -- LeadingAge, the association of mission-driven, aging-focused service providers, responds to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s Action Restricting Nursing Home Visitors to Address Spread of Coronavirus, announced by Administrator Seema Verma this afternoon at a televised press conference.
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