Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Information and Resources for WALA Members
REMINDER: HHS Applications Due July 20th
Recap of HHS Funding for Providers: The federal government has announced that $15 billion in funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be made available to health care providers across the country who participate in Medicaid programs such as Wisconsin’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Providers should review and apply, as appropriate, for funding from HHS that was made available on June 10 to help providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible providers could receive at least 2% of gross revenue from patient care in relief funding.

Examples of providers serving Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries possibly eligible for this funding include the following: pediatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists, dentists, opioid treatment and behavioral health providers, assisted living facilities, and other home- and community-based services providers.


WALA is currently recommending that providers consider the following information prior to visiting the portal:

  • Familiarize yourself with the process and application before submission
  • Carefully work through the FAQs, instructions and PDF worksheet, and embedded Excel workbook.
  • If you have questions, call the customer support hotline at (866) 569-3522
  • Consider that there are no re-do submissions. If you make an error, you will disqualify yourself.
  • Only start in the portal once you have verified the information and materials you completed offline

Providers have until July 20, 2020 to submit their application to HHS.
Membership Matters: A Weekly Dialogue with WALA
We invite WALA Members to engage in a weekly dialogue opportunity with WALA CEO Mike Pochowski.

When: Friday, July 17 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

To Participate via Zoom  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81865286559 

These meetings will provide:
  • Recap of the week behind us – top items of relevance as they affect assisted living providers
  • Updates on advocacy initiatives around COVID-19, caregiver funding, workforce, etc.
  • Question and Answer opportunity

You can submit your questions in advance to WALA by Wednesday at 5 p.m. via email  info@ewala.org. There will also be opportunity for live Q&A.
M3 Insurance COVID-19 Updates for Assisted Living Providers
COVID-19 & WORKERS’ COMPENSATION:
WHAT IS THE IMPACT FOR WISCONSIN PROVIDERS?
As per the Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Rating Bureau (WCRB), COVID-19 claims will be coded as an Extraordinary Loss Event and will not impact the Workers’ Compensation experience modification factor (mod).

COVID-19 is an OSHA recordable illness if deemed work-related. COVID-19 only needs to be reported to OSHA if an employee goes into the hospital as an inpatient within 24 hours or passes within 30 days of diagnosis.

However, COVID-19 medical and lost time expenses incurred by the carrier will be included in a provider’s workers’ compensation loss ratio, which may ultimately impact future underwriting decisions, such as dividends or whether the insurance carrier is willing to insure the risk.

If your community is experiencing high rates of work-related COVID-19, it is likely there may be additional information requested during renewal.
OSHA & COVID-19: INSPECTION PREPARATION
OSHA inspections and requests are on the rise. Within the last thirty days, Wisconsin has had five OSHA investigations opened at senior living facilities, specifically related to COVID-19. Even if you did not have any issues with DQA’s focused infection control survey, you are not off the hook and OSHA may still investigate your facility.

If your community has experienced an employee hospitalization, death or even an employee complaint related to COVID-19, you may receive an email or phone call from OSHA.

Here are the key areas you can expect to be reviewed during an inspection:

  • Written pandemic plan as recommended by CDC or integrated as a part of emergency preparedness plan or infection control plan.
  • Employee training records, including any records of training related to COVID-19 exposure prevention or in preparation for a pandemic.
  • Documentation that adequate fit-testing was performed if mandating the use of N95 masks.
  • Documentation of provisions made by the employer to obtain and provide appropriate and adequate supplies of PPE.
  • Due to the mass shortages of PPE, you will need to provide all efforts made to obtain PPE, including backorder logs and government requests.

Refer to OSHA’s Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 for an exhaustive list of what to expect during an OSHA inspection.
This information was provided by M3 insurance. M3 clients are encouraged to contact their agent for more details. Visit M3 online here .
WALA Virtual Conference Registration Now Open

WALA Virtual Conference

September 14 - 18
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