The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began distributing 749 payments totaling $392,105,000 to skilled nursing facilities in Texas to help them combat the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this pandemic, nursing homes have faced unique challenges as their population of high-risk seniors are more vulnerable to respiratory pathogens like COVID-19. This funding, which supplements previously announced provider relief funds, will be used to support nursing homes suffering from significant expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19, according to a news release from HHS.
HHS will make relief fund distributions to SNFs based on both a fixed basis and a variable basis. Each SNF will receive a fixed distribution of $50,000, plus a distribution of $2,500 per bed. All certified SNFs with six or more certified beds are eligible for this targeted distribution.
Nursing home recipients must attest that they will only use provider relief fund payments for permissible purposes, as set forth in the Terms and Conditions, and agree to comply with future government audit and reporting requirements.
Information on facilities receiving the funds will not be released until after the facilities agree to the terms and conditions, according to the HHS media office. Information on funds for facilities in Arkansas was not immediately available.
"This funding secured by President Trump will help nursing homes keep the seniors they care for safe during the COVID-19 pandemic," HHS Secretary Alex Azar said. "The Trump Administration is providing every resource we can, from funding and direct PPE shipments to regulatory flexibility and infection-control consultations, to protect seniors in nursing homes and those who care for them."
President Trump is providing support to healthcare providers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through the bipartisan CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act that provides $175 billion in relief funds to hospitals and other healthcare providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response. I
Since the beginning of 2020, SNFs have experienced up to a 6% decline in their patient population as current and potential residents choose other care settings, or as current residents pass away. In addition to nursing home residents, many SNF employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19. These additional funds may help nursing homes address critical needs such as labor, scaling up their testing capacity, acquiring personal protective equipment, and a range of other expenses directly linked to this pandemic.
Visit hhs.gov/providerrelief for additional information.