The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) extended the application deadline for the Medicaid tranche of Provider Relief Funds. The deadline, which was July 20, 2020, has been extended to Monday, August 3, 2020. ...more
The Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) continues to issue guidance related to Provider Relief Funds (“Funds”) and changes of ownership, clarifying (and apparently cementing) its position that Funds may not transfer...more
The Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act (the “Bill”), which Governor Kemp is expected to sign the Bill into law, would provide civil immunity from certain liability claims related to COVID-19. The Bill follows...more
In this article, we update our previous article related to state COVID-19 funding efforts and examine continued developments across the country. In particular these funding opportunities offer welcome relief for those on the...more
New measures intended to increase protection of residents in Georgia assisted living communities and personal care homes were signed into law on June 30, 2020. House Bill 987 (“HB 987”) amends Title 31 of the O.C.G.A. and is...more
As discussed in previous articles, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has disbursed significant funding to many provider types. Certain providers on the front lines have been largely left out, including...more
Provider relief funds have been distributed primarily to Medicare-certified programs to date. Medicaid providers that do not participate in Medicare are bearing most if not all of the same expenses and losses as Medicare...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted its first set of nursing home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data, including numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths and infection control inspection results on June...more
Provider relief fund recipients have expressed confusion about the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) publicized June 3, 2020 deadline for submitting certain tax and financial documentation. ...more
The most common question among providers concerns the retention of CARES Act Provider Relief Funds (the “Relief Funds”) distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) as part of its initial General...more
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced an additional deadline extension for providers that received relief funds on May 22, 2020. We previously reported HHS’ extension from 30 to 45 days for providers that...more
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are now receiving additional relief fund dollars from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), totaling almost $4.9 billion. In its press release, HHS stated that the additional...more
Providers that recently acquired a Medicare provider through a change of ownership (CHOW) could face difficulties obtaining some or all of the provider relief funds as previously discussed. The first two tranches of payments...more
The costs to operate assisted living facilities (“ALFs”) and ensure the health and well-being of ALF residents throughout the pandemic have substantially increased. Certain states have employed relief funding in the form of...more
Many states initially focused Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing efforts on skilled nursing facilities. States are now expanding mandatory testing requirements to include assisted living facilities (ALFs) as testing...more
The Department of Health & Human Services continues to release significant updates with respect to provider relief funds. Given the critical need for the funds and the likely government audits down the road, providers should...more
HHS Announces Allocation of Initial $100 Billion - The initial $30 billion disbursement from HHS to health care providers across the country was a part of a much larger $100 billion fund. HHS announced an outline of planned...more
This article is one in a series related to the Medicare Relief Fund. As noted in a previous article, the new Attestation Portal is available to providers that receive Medicare relief funding. In this article, we review the...more
As discussed in our previous article, healthcare providers that received Medicare relief funds must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agreeing to the terms and conditions of payment. The attestation is...more
In an effort to provide healthcare institutions and medical facilities “additional flexibility,” Georgia Governor, Brian P. Kemp, issued a new Executive Order limiting the liability of employees, staff, and contractors of...more
Many Medicare providers awoke the morning of Friday April 10, 2020 to an influx of Medicare funds. The funds are a $30 billion portion of the $100 billion stimulus fund intended to provide relief to healthcare providers...more
Every healthcare and public health tool available is engaged in the fight against COVID-19. Few tools are more precious than beds, and perhaps no bed is more precious during this time than hospital beds, where the most sick...more
As the single largest payor for health care in the United States, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recognized and acted on the need to move quickly in the fight against COVID-19....more
Long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities, are at high risk of being affected by COVID-19 due to their congregate nature and the type of residents population served (e.g., older adults...more
A critical question faced by state agencies as well as owners, operators, and managers of assisted living facilities is whether to permit new admissions. ...more