Blog
Update on HHS Provider Relief Funds
- By: Angela Westhoff
- On: 08/19/2021 14:30:02
- In: Legislative/Government Affairs
Last week, AHCA/ NCAL sent a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the release of the remainder of the Provider Relief Funds. For the last year and a half, nursing homes and assisted living providers have been working hard to protect the health and safety of their residents.
COVID-19 and the recent explosion of the Delta variant continues to impact thousands of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across the US. As a result, long term care providers continue to face immediate and dire circumstances. While the COVID-19 vaccine has lowered the infection and hospitalization rates in the United States and our facilities vigilance has mitigated potential spread, the delta variant remains formidable and challenging.
Skyrocketing labor costs due to a challenging labor market and lower patient census is culminating in serious challenges.
Maine's Senator Susan Collins has also drafted a letter urging HHS to provide an immediate update on its plan to distribute the remaining provider relief funds. The letter states, “Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living providers, health clinics, and other health care providers need these funds to help weather the financial difficulties created by the pandemic.” As the health care provider community continues to respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Collins notes that this funding “should be released without any further delay.”
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org