The OAA is the nation’s law focused on supporting the independence, dignity and well-being of older adults. Since 1965, the OAA has supported programs that improve the lives of seniors – particularly those who are low-income. Services supported by the OAA include congregate and home delivered meals, specialized transportation services, employment and volunteer programs, adult day care, senior centers and Long-Term Care ombudsman activities.
As the federal government takes steps to address the COVID-19 pandemic, one tool that it has adopted is the Medicaid program. This article summarizes key provisions related to Medicaid in the legislation signed on March 18, the Families First bill, as well as the third coronavirus stimulus bill expected to become law by the end of March.
Increases to Share of Medicaid Spending
Housing provisions in the third stimulus package include resources for HUD-assisted housing to pay for COVID-19-related costs as well as a 120-day moratorium on all evictions from federally-assisted housing, including in all HUD, USDA Rural Housing, and Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs.
Funds for HUD Housing
The “Families First Coronavirus Response Act”, which was signed into law by the President on March 18, contained a number of provisions in addition to paid sick and FMLA leave, described in LeadingAge’s article, President Signs Families First Coronavirus Response Act; What Does This Mean for Aging Services?
LeadingAge is at the forefront of seeking relief from Congress for affordable senior housing providers grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
LeadingAge is urging Senate and House members to include financial and regulatory relief in any next emergency supplemental bill. Action on emergency COVID-19 bills has been fast and furious, and LeadingAge is hopeful some of our key asks will be included in an emergency package.
In March hearings of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, HUD Secretary Ben Carson was asked to defend his department’s work to help HUD-assisted communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, March 12, HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing published a Question and Answer document to help housing providers navigate COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that was recently declared a global health emergency.
On March 6, LeadingAge wrote to the White House Coronavirus Task Force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, urging increased HUD attention to senior affordable housing communities faced with the coronavirus outbreak.
LeadingAge affordable housing members and their residents are in need of HUD-specific guidance related to emergency equipment, supplies, and staffing, as well as guidance on how quarantines would work within an affordable community, visitor policies for health services staff and for non-health service staff, and for more communication with providers and residents.
On March 6, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (PL 116-123), appropriating $8.3 billion in emergency funds to “prevent, prepare and respond to Coronavirus. In addition, the bill relaxes some telehealth requirements, intending to expand the use of and reimbursement for telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries.
LeadingAge is seeking feedback from affordable housing provider members on a proposal put forth by HUD as part of its fiscal year 2021 request to Congress.
HUD is proposing to transition five year Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRACs) from their current annual renewal cycle with budget based rent increases to a five-year renewal cycle (subject to annual appropriations) with an operating cost adjustment factor.
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