Did you know CMS has recently published two new options for Skilled Nursing Facilities to obtain additional Covid-19 funding?
- Phase 2 General Distribution Funding:
Starting the week of August 10, HHS announced that certain Medicare providers would be given another opportunity to receive additional Provider Relief Fund payments. These are providers who previously missed the June 3, 2020 deadline to apply for additional COVID funding. Eligible providers can receive funding of up to 2 percent of their reported total revenue from patient care. Providers will have an eligible amount in this Phase 2 based on whether there was a payment received in Phase 1. HHS will expect providers to agree to terms and conditions to receive these funds. Be sure your data is accurate as auditing is in place to verify the payment calculations are correct. Time is running out and providers will only have until August 28, 2020, to complete an application to be considered for the balance of this additional funding.
Details of this program can be found here: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/index.html
- Provider Relief Fund:
On July 22, 2020, CMS in conjunction with HHS announced that $5 Billion from the CARES Act would be devoted to Medicare-certified long term care facilities and state veterans’ homes, to build nursing home skills and enhance nursing homes’ response to COVID-19, including enhanced infection control.
Why is this available?
CMS suggests that this funding could be used to address critical needs in nursing homes including:- Hiring additional staff
- Implementing infection control “mentorship” programs with subject matter experts
- Increasing testing
- Providing additional services, such as technology so residents can connect with their families if they are not able to visit
To read the full CMS press release about this additional funding visit this page: