September 4, 2020
The federal government confirmed that the remaining $2 billion in federal aid to nursing homes (NH) will be incentive based with facilities that beat baseline COVID-19 infection and mortality rates set to receive more relief.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released details of the incentive on Thursday. They will measure NH against baseline level of infection in the community where they are located.
Facilities will have their performance measured on 2 outcomes (both measured using NHSN submission data):
- Ability to keep new COVID-19 infection rates low among residents.
- Ability to keep COVID-19 mortality low among residents.
The payment cycle will be divided into four performance periods (September, October, November, and December) with each period of $500 million available for distribution. All nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities meeting the previously noted qualifications will be eligible for each of the four performance periods following review by HHS.
Nursing homes will not have to apply to receive a share of this $2 billion incentive payment allocation.
CLICK HERE to read the news release from HHS in its entirety.
