Memorandum
To: Mass Senior Care Members
From: Tara Gregorio, President
RE: HHS Releases a Portion of the $100 Billion COVID-19 Health Care Fund
Date: April 10, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the distribution of the first $30 billion of the $100 billion stimulus fund included in the CARES Act. AHCA has provided a brief description of the process.
Highlights are the following:
1. SNFs are included in the distribution.
2. All Medicare providers will receive payments based on their 2019 Part A and Part B billings.
3. AHCA preliminary analysis indicates that providers will receive roughly 6.2% of their 2019 billings.
4. HHS intends to get the money to providers directly. Funds may arrive as early as today, with the goal being no later than next week.
5. This is a grant; it is not a loan.
6. This is in addition to the Accelerated Payment Program. You can participate in both.
7. The next distribution from the $100 billion relief fund is expected to be $50 billion, and it will be more focused on skilled nursing facilities and more tilted toward Medicaid providers and buildings that have been hit by COVID-19. HHS’s goal is to get that money out in 10 days.
In regard to funding incremental COVID-19 costs, as noted previously, the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services has announced it will issue Supplemental Payments to nursing facilities for a four-month period. In addition, MassHealth has implemented a number of eligibility related flexibilities to expedite eligibility determinations, including self attestation for verification of information.