CMS Updated Questions and Answers on COVID-19
Update on Federal CARES Act Funding for Emergency Health and Social Services
Human Services Announces State-Run Facility Admission Protocols for COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts
Financial Resources Webinar: CARES Act and FFRCA Follow Up Q&A
Coronavirus Emergency Loans Guide and Checklist for Small Businesses and Nonprofits
Supervision Rulings for PA Professional Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists
Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program
From ACCSES:
The Federal Reserve made an announcement today that it would provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to boost the economy. One of the loans they are creating is the Main Street Lending Program, which the Fed says “will enhance support for small and mid-sized businesses that were in good financial standing before the crisis by offering 4-year loans to companies employing up to 10,000 workers or with revenues of less than $2.5 billion. Principal and interest payments will be deferred for one year.
Firms seeking Main Street loans must commit to make reasonable efforts to maintain payroll and retain workers. Borrowers must also follow compensation, stock repurchase, and dividend restrictions that apply to direct loan programs under the CARES Act. Firms that have taken advantage of the PPP may also take out Main Street loans.”
The Federal Reserve announcement went on to say, “The Federal Reserve and the Treasury recognize that businesses vary widely in their financing needs, particularly at this time, and, as the program is being finalized, will continue to seek input from lenders, borrowers, and other stakeholders to make sure the program supports the economy as effectively and efficiently as possible while also safeguarding taxpayer funds.” Comments may be sent to the feedback form until April 16. The feedback form is here.
CMS Suspends Some Rules to Maximize Frontline Workers During COVID-19
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) received direction from President Trump to temporarily suspend a number of rules so that hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities can boost their frontline medical staff as they take on the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes will focus on reducing supervision and certification requirements in order for practitioners to be hired quickly and perform work to the fullest extent of their licenses. As a result of this action, doctors can now directly care for patients at rural hospitals, across state lines if necessary without being physically present; Nurse practitioners can now perform some medical exams on Medicare patients at skilled nursing facilities so that patient needs can be met; Occupational therapists from home health agencies can now perform initial assessments on certain homebound patients; and Hospice nurses will be relieved of hospice aide in-service training tasks so they can spend more time with patients.
For additional guidance, CMS has published a list of workforce flexibilities that CMS has permitted thus far.
Guidance Expanded on Tele-Intervention to Cover All Infant-Toddler Early Intervention Services
The Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports announced additional guidance that grants approval to expand all Infant/Toddler Early Intervention services to be delivered and reimbursed using tele-intervention. Procedure codes and modifiers for place of service home/community (12) should be used. The documentation can be found on the Department of Human Services website and reviewed here Provider Quick Tip #242.
DHS Fingerprinting Update
Yesterday during the DHS weekly briefing, DHS Secretary Teresa Miller provided a progress update to where the Department is with fingerprinting.
DHS explained that many of the IdentGO locations are beginning to reopen and/or expand hours of operation; we encourage anyone needing fingerprints to call the closest locations to verify whether they are operating, as this may begin to change. See the Pennsylvania Statewide interactive MAP of IdentGO locations.
DHS is not able to broadly waive this requirement from the state level because it is contained in numerous federal laws like the Family First Prevention Services Act, the Adam Walsh Act, and the Child Care Development Block Grant Act.
DHS has released guidance on waiving licensing requirements in Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences – but understand that this guidance does not align with information just issued by the Department of Aging. DHS is working with the Department of Aging to address the discrepancies and will provide clarification.
For those who first obtained clearances in 2015 following changes to the Child Protective Services Law who will need to renew these clearances this year, DHS is open to temporarily delaying the five-year requirement, but this would need to happen through legislative action. DHS and the Governor’s Office are working with the legislature to try to accomplish this; however, this cannot be the only option. DHS is also pursuing potentially opening additional, temporary fingerprinting sites that can help us meet this need.
RCPA will continue to update members on any further developments. If you have questions or feedback, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.
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