Governors Announce Multi-State Council To Get People Back To Work And Restore The Economy
PA Begins Implementation of Federal Unemployment
Governor Tom Wolf announced the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is implementing new federal unemployment compensation benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The COVID-19 relief package temporarily provides an additional $600 per week, makes self-employed, independent contractors and gig workers eligible for benefits, and extends unemployment compensation (UC) benefits for an additional 13 weeks.
Safeguard Against Disability Discrimination During COVID-19
Quick-Reference Fact Sheet Now Available
The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities has published a new fact sheet for health care professionals, describing best practices and legal requirements for health care when serving people with disabilities. It is based on guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
Application Portal Opens 4/13/20 for $200 Million in Telehealth Aid
The COVID-19 Telehealth Program, a new federal program appropriated by Congress as part of the CARES Act, will provide $200 Million in Support for Health Care Providers and Patients Across the Country During the Coronavirus Outbreak. Application vetting begins this week.
The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program application portal opens today, Monday, April 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm ET.
Expanded Coverage for COVID-19 Essential Diagnostic Testing Now Available
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), along with the Departments of Labor and the Treasury, recently issued guidance that announces the expanded coverage for essential diagnostic testing and other related services at no cost (no co-pays or out-of-pocket expenses). To assist in the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, this testing will include antibody testing (when it becomes widely available). This will include urgent care visits, emergency department visits, and in-person or telehealth visits to doctor’s offices that result in an order for or administration of a COVID-19 test.
Webinar: Update and Questions Answered – FFCRA and PPP Cares Act
HHS Releases $30 Billion In Relief Funding As Part Of Cares Act
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an initial $30 billion in relief funding to Medicare providers today as part of the CARES Act, bringing the total to be distributed in the coming months to more than $100 billion. Pennsylvania has been allocated more than $1 billion in funding, which is one of the highest distribution amounts in the country.
Providers who are enrolled in Medicare have been allotted a portion of these funds based on their share of 2019 Medicare fee-for-services reimbursements. These are payments, not loans, to health care providers and will not need to be repaid.
HHS is partnering with UnitedHealth Group to deliver the initial $30 billion distribution to providers as quickly as possible. Providers will be paid via Automated Clearing House account information on file with UHG, UnitedHealthcare, or Optum Bank, or used for reimbursements from CMS. Providers who normally receive a paper check for reimbursement from CMS will receive a paper check in the mail for this payment as well, within the next few weeks.
Within 30 days of receiving the payment, providers must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agreeing to the terms and conditions of payment. The portal for signing the attestation will be open Monday and will be available here.
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CMS Clarifies Suspension Of Sequestration
CMS provided clarification around the suspension of sequestration in a special edition of MLNConnects: Section 3709 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act temporarily suspends the 2% payment adjustment currently applied to all Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) claims due to sequestration. The suspension is effective for claims with dates of service from May 1 through December 31, 2020.
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Hospital Emergency Loan Program To Help Financially Strained Hospitals
Today Governor Wolf announced the creation of a new loan program, the Hospital Emergency Loan Program (HELP), that will provide short-term financial relief to Pennsylvania’s hospitals as they prepare for the growing surge of individuals infected with COVID-19 and the economic impact expected as a result of this surge. This loan will provide hospitals with immediate financial support for working capital to ensure they have sufficient personnel, equipment, and personal protective equipment.
The funding was dispersed by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and will be administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development through the Pennsylvania First Program (PA First).
Pennsylvania health care facilities licensed as hospitals by the Pennsylvania Department of Health under the Health Care Facilities Act of 1979 that are eligible to receive federal grant funding through the CARES Act are eligible for HELP. The maximum loan size is $10 million per hospital, at an interest rate of 0.5 percent.
HELP will allow hospitals to take responsive action now until funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, is dispersed completely, with the goal of easing the financial strain of the pandemic and smoothing the transition back into regular health care operation. Permitted expenses under HELP will mirror those under the CARES Act, allowing hospitals to close out their loan with CARES funding once it is received.
Applications will be available on the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s website starting at 10:00 am on April 13 and will be available through April 20. The costs must be incurred between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020.
CMS Updated Questions and Answers on COVID-19
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