Nursing homes may be seeing a rise in COVID-19 infections as cases in many areas of the country are resurging, but providers now know that, no matter what, they will be rewarded for safer performances between last August and September.
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Federal authorities announced Wednesday afternoon that they will be distributing about $333 million in first-round performance payments to more than 10,000 nursing homes for their results battling COVID-19.
The federal government has delivered about 7.3 million Abbott BinaxNOW rapid tests to nursing homes across the country, a top health official announced Monday. Supply “far exceeds demands from nursing homes,” he added.
Testing is critical to keeping the coronavirus in check in long-term care facilities as U.S. case counts trend back upward, said Adm. Brett Giroir, M.D. Federal agencies continue to deliver antigen tests to facilities and will soon be able to track all test orders as well, he said Monday.
The federal government is no longer limiting providers’ use of Provider Relief Funds for covering lost revenue due to the coronavirus, according to an updated memo issued late last week.
Long-term care facilities nationwide can voluntarily opt in to a free pharmacy partnership program that will provide and administer future COVID-19 vaccines on site, federal officials announced Friday.
Long-term care providers are being urged to participate in a federal vaccination program that would provide COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff members with no out-of-pocket costs.
Several other states are expressing skepticism in the reliability of the rapid, point-of-care antigen tests provided by the federal government following reports that the devices have been producing a lot of false negatives for nursing homes.
States that prohibit long-term care providers from using rapid, point-of-care antigen testing devices are in violation of federal law and could face serious consequences from public health authorities, a top official has warned.
