PUBLIC POLICY UPDATES

On the call with the Governor’s office this morning, the following was reported: Advisory Council members are expected to be announced on Tuesday. They are making sure that all facets of the economy and critical functions are addressed.  NJEDA reported that all 2 million PPP loans will be audited by U.S. Treasury. NJEDA is likely approving its first loan today from their $10M program. Grants from their $5M Grant program will be paid out by the middle of next week.  The general consensus on the call is that the recent changes to the federal Main Street Loan Program changes are positive and will be much more inclusive.   NJDLWD has started payments on claims for independent contractors and the self-employed population. There have been more than 1 million applicants and claims. More than 630K have begun to receive payments.

Murphy Administration Deploys Essential Equipment to Help Meet Need for N95 Respirators  The Murphy Administration announced that the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and The Defense Logistics Agency, has secured the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System (CCDS) to assist healthcare providers, first responders and other agencies in decontaminating and preserving critically needed N95 respirators at no charge to the sending agencies.  Click here for press release.

Trump Administration Issues Second Round of Sweeping Changes to Support U.S. Health Care System During COVID-19 Pandemic At President Trump’s direction, and building on its recent historic efforts to help the U.S. health care system manage the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued another round of sweeping regulatory waivers and rule changes to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and provide flexibility to the healthcare system as America reopens. These changes include making it easier for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to get tested for COVID-19 and continuing CMS’s efforts to further expand beneficiaries’ access to telehealth services. CMS is taking action to ensure states and localities have the flexibilities they need to ramp up diagnostic testing and access to medical care, key precursors to ensuring a phased, safe and gradual reopening of America. Click here for article.

CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes  As a part of President Trump’s Opening Up America Again effort, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new independent Commission that will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Commission will provide independent recommendations to the contractor to review and report to CMS to help inform immediate and future responses to COVID-19 in nursing homes. This unprecedented effort builds upon the agency’s five-part plan unveiled last April to ensure safety and quality in America’s nursing homes, as well as recent CMS efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 within these facilities. May marks Older Americans Month and, as we take this time to honor seniors, CMS remains committed to enacting policies that benefit our Nation’s seniors.    Click here for article.

FUNDING UPDATES

Federal Reserve Board Announces it is Expanding the Scope and Eligibility for the Main Street Lending Program The Federal Reserve Board announced it is expanding the scope and eligibility for the Main Street Lending Program. As part of its broad effort to support the economy, the Federal Reserve developed the Main Street Lending Program to help credit flow to small and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the pandemic.   Click here for details.

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