Coronavirus Update #108
Maryland COVID-19 Crisis Support Program, June 3 Attestation Deadline Applies Only to Medicare FFS Provider Relief Payment, Upcoming Webinar Reminder
Maryland COVID-19 Crisis Support Program

The Maryland COVID-19 Crisis Support Program is a new program that provides free, confidential mental health support to employees of Maryland’s long-term health care facilities impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Skilled nursing and other long-term care facility staffs have found themselves at the frontlines of this pandemic. Their dedication to their patients and their colleagues has caused incredible stress. Thank you for your work during this challenging time. Now we encourage you to take care of yourself.

Free mental health services include:

  • Individual counseling support for employees  
  • Self-care and stress management education via health and wellness webinars
  • Management consultation focused on building employee morale and sustaining long-term well-being 
  • Group support for specific workgroups/teams/shifts
  • Group critical incident debriefings focused on specific traumatic events 
  • Bereavement coaching
  • Facilitated wellness and stress management discussions open to all employees

Services will be provided virtually by licensed mental health clinicians provided by the Workplace Trauma Center (WTC). MIEMSS staff are available to visit the site to facilitate virtual services, including technical support if needed.

Get Help Now

To receive mental health services for yourself or your organization visit: bit.ly/marylandcovidsupport . If you have an urgent request please contact MIEMSS at 1-800-648-3001. For general inquiries email [email protected] .
June 3 Attestation Deadline Applies Only to Medicare FFS Provider Relief Payment 

This morning the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services clarified that the June 3 deadline for providers to submit revenue data:

  • Is only for providers who received a Tranche 1 allocation and would like to submit financial information to receive additional Tranche 1 funding. 

  • Providers would still be required to ensure that their General Distribution payment is the lesser of 2% of their provider net revenue or the sum of incurred losses for March and April.

Below is the relevant HHS webpage  text: 
 
ALERT : Providers need to take action by [TOMORROW,] June 3, 2020 

Providers must submit revenue information to the  General Distribution Portal   by June 3, 2020  to be considered for an additional payment from the Provider Relief Fund $20 billion General Distribution. Once providers submit their revenue information by June 3, 2020, if deemed qualified for additional payment, providers will then have 90 days from receipt of payment of the additional General Distribution funds to agree to the program Terms and Conditions.

Along with our partners at AHCA/NCAL, we recognize how challenging the lack of guidance is for members. Please know that ACHA/NCAL is working with HHS to secure additional information. 

All other questions about the fund should be directed to HHS Hotline at (866) 569-3522 . HHS reported on May 22 that the call center now has access to additional data and new HHS guidance to better answer questions.

Tranche by Tranche Questions

Tranche 1 : HHS as provided the formula and allocation process in its FAQs . The data source for the award amounts was 2019 Medicare Part A Fee-For-Service (FFS) net revenue. 

Tranche 2 : As above, HHS has provided the formula for Tranche 2 in its  FAQs . Of note, HHS explains why a provider who received a Tranche 1 award may not have received a Tranche 2 award. The data source for Tranche 2 was 2018 Medicare Cost Report. 

Tranche 3 (SNF-Only): All SNFs with Medicare-certified beds should have received an allocation on May 22. If the SNF did not receive an allocation this could be because:
  • it is a Medicaid-only or private pay only facility; or
  • errors in HHS’ data source (April 2020 CASPER Report).

If the SNF believes they should have received a Tranche 3 award or received the incorrect amount, they should contact the Hotline (above) and have the following information ready:
  • Tax Identification Number(s) (TIN)
  • CMS Certification Number(s) (CCN)
  • Dollar amount in question by building 

Also, for Tranche 3, the SNF Allocation, have the number of SNF certified beds (Medicare, Medicaid or both), the amount they received and the amount they believe they should have received. 

At this point, the above information is all HHS has shared. AHCA/NCAL continues to request clarification on Change in Ownership, TINs and reporting window information.  
COVID-19 and Long-Term Care Facilities: How Maryland's Long-Term Care Industry is Responding
 
We, along with our partners at the Alzheimer's Association, LifeSpan, and LeadingAge MD, invite you to a virtual pubic conversation on the impact of COVID-19 on Maryland's long-term care industry and those we serve. Understand how we have approached this unprecedented pandemic, our response in areas such as: testing, reporting, surge capacity, and what additional actions are needed to support staff, individuals at their facilities, and family caregivers.
 
Details:
Tuesday, June 9 
11:00 AM

Featured Speakers:
 
  • Cass Naugle, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Association Greater Maryland

  • Alison Cibrowski, President and CEO, LeadingAge of Maryland

  • Joe DeMattos, President and CEO, Health Facilities Association of Maryland

  • Kevin Heffner, President, LifeSpan Network
Re: Nursing Homes COVID-19 Specimen Collection Due Date - 6/5/20

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) last week released this letter from Secretary Neall regarding testing and lab submission.

Nursing homes are directed to use test kits delivered by the National Guard to complete the contemporaneous COVID-19 test specimen collection on 100% of nursing home residents and staff. It is essential that all nursing homes conduct specimen collection promptly. MDH requires specimens from 100% of residents and all available staff be collected and submitted to the designated laboratory for testing no later than June 5, 2020.

The Maryland National Guard will follow-up with a telephone survey of all 227 facilities to ensure all testing is completed and to address questions and concerns about universal testing. As previously noted, assistance with staff shortages due to temporary loss of asymptomatic positive staff is available through the Chesapeake Registry and from Bridge Teams as necessary.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local health department or Col. Eric Allely at [email protected].
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/1/20

CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts. 

Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so you are highly encouraged to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser.

 
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern)

Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to:Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls; Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce; Put Patients Over Paperwork; and Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare 

This week’s Office Hours:
Tuesday, June 2 at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 4474407
 
Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern)

Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters.

This week’s Lessons from the Front Lines:
Friday, June 5 at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Code: 6583696
Did you miss HFAM's previous alerts?

Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
Thank you.

We cannot thank you enough for the dedication and diligence in doing all that you can for the residents in your communities. HFAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with our state and national partners and will do all we can to support you during this time.