The total bill would be about $672 million to test every resident and staff member at each U.S. nursing home and assisted living facility just once, according to new data released by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living.
The newly released information showed that one round of universal testing for the nation’s 42,382 assisted living communities would cost $232 million nationwide. Last week, AHCA/NCAL revealed that the cost for the same at nursing homes would be $440 million.
California would face the highest costs by far, the estimates revealed. It would need a total of 458,268 tests, which would cost $68.7 million. In Alaska, which had the lowest costs, providers would need an estimated 3,926 tests, which would cost about $589,000.
The association warned that regular testing at long-term facilities is unsustainable without help from federal and state governments. It also pointed out that assisted living communities have yet to receive any direct aid despite also serving vulnerable seniors.
“For months now, we have been advocating for expanded and priority testing in long-term care facilities to protect our residents and caregivers, but this is a significant undertaking and cost for them to shoulder on their own,” AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson said.
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that skilled nursing operators would receive about $4.9 billion in funding to help with their pandemic response. Specifically, each SNF will receive $50,000 initially, as well as another $2,500 per bed.
While building on support received from HHS, Parkinson called for additional consideration for all long-term care facilities, “whether it be in regard to additional testing, personal protective equipment, or funding.”
