The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday evening announced it will be sending $5 billion of the Provider Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to Medicare-certified long term care facilities and state veterans’ homes (“nursing homes”), to build nursing home skills and enhance nursing homes’ response to COVID-19, including enhanced infection control. 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, and providing additional services, such as technology so residents can connect with their families if they are not able to visit. To qualify for the funding, nursing homes must participate in an online program focused on infection control and best practices. CMS and HHS are still working on the methodology for distribution of these funds. The agencies have made clear that their priorities are testing, funding for staffing costs and to address facilities in COVID-19 hotspots. We will provide more details on the funding distribution as they become available.

The FY20 MassHealth Direct Care Webform is now operational. The URL is https://www.uenter.org/nf/. The due date for filing the report is Friday, July 31, 2020.

The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) has scheduled a webinar regarding the new electronic nursing facility Realty Company Cost Report, now called the REA-CR, that you will be using for the first time to file your 2019 realty company cost reports. In this webinar, CHIA will discuss the changes and new functionality available to you as you complete and file this new electronic cost report.

CMS announced a targeted approach to provide additional resources to nursing homes in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) hotspot areas.

Through a collaboration with Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Massachusetts Senior Care Association received a generous donation of face shields produced by Applied Materials and the Gloucester Education Foundation.