COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Update for 10-22-2021

STATE NEWS

Select Committee on Government Overreach and the Impact of COVID-19 Mandates
The Kansas legislature created a special committee on COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and it will meet for the first time on Friday, October 29th and Saturday, October 30^th. View the agenda here. LeadingAge Kansas will be submitting written testimony to the committee stating our association’s position against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. If you would like to submit your own testimony for the Saturday, October 30^th hearing let us know!

FEDERAL NEWS

Deadline to Apply for PRF Phase 4 October 26^th
The application is STILL OPEN for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments. It will close on October 26, 2021 at 10:59 PM Central Time. Your application must undergo a number of validation checks before you can submit your financial information, so begin your application as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline to apply. PRF Phase 4 is open to a broad range of healthcare providers who have been impacted by COVID-19. You may be eligible if you deliver health care, services, and/or support in a medical setting, at home, or in the community. APPLY HERE through the Provider Relief Fund Application and Attestation Portal!  Watch the archived webcasts to learn more:

• Phase 4 and ARP Rural – overview and portal demo
  • Thursday, September 30 – view the webcast  
  • Tuesday, October 5 – view the webcast  
  • Download the slides (PDF – 2.35 MB)
• Phase 4 and ARP Rural – providing supporting documentation
  • Wednesday, October 13 – view the webcast  

HRSA provides many resources to assist you in completing the application process, including application instructions, sample application forms, flow charts, FAQs, detailed information on how payments will be calculated, program Terms and Conditions, and more, all available at hrsa.gov/provider-relief/future-payments. For any questions, you can also call HRSA’s Provider Support Line at (866) 569-3522; for TTY dial 711. Hours of operation are 8 AM to 10 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday.

 Also, Nicole Fallon is also a knowledgeable go-to person at LeadingAge on PRF questions. nfallon@leadingage.org  

LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS

Weekly Webinar Return Next Friday
Join us next week, October 29^th at 10 AM where we are featuring members who are getting their vaccination rates above 75%. If you haven’t already done so, register here for upcoming calls through the end of the year.

LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS

Join the Special LeadingAge COVID-19 Supplemental Payments (CSP) Call: Thursday, October 28th, 1 PM CT
With key HUD deadlines approaching for COVID-19 Supplemental Payments (CSPs), LeadingAge is hosting a special call to review member questions about COVID-19 reimbursements. During the call, we’ll review HUD’s CSP Notice, FAQs, and request form, and we’ll identify outstanding questions about CSPs. Our discussion will cover both operating expenses and capital expenses eligible for reimbursement, including internet connectivity costs. Please email Juliana at jbilowich@leadingage.org for more information or to submit advance questions. This members-only call is taking place during our usual Connectivity Workgroup monthly call time.

Insights from LeadingAge

• PACE Weekly Update.  Here is your weekly PACE Update.
• Home Health and Hospice Weekly Update.  Here is your weekly Home Health and Hospice Update.
• Affordable Housing Weekly Update.  Here is your weekly Affordable Housing Update.
• Nursing Home Weekly Update.  Here is your weekly Nursing Home Update
• Life Plan Community Weekly Update.  Here is your weekly LPC Update.

Next Coronavirus Update Call – Monday, November 1st at 2:30 PM Central
To include a federal policy update and report on the PHI study  Workforce Displacement and Reemployment During the COVID-19 Pandemic:  Implications for Direct Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention

HAVE YOU DONE YOUR PART? Build Back Better/Reconciliation Action Alert 
As negotiations continue on the Reconciliation Infrastructure package, it is vital that you, your staff and residents contact your Congressional offices to ensure that our programs are not cut. The U.S. House committees passed bills that make significant investments to support older adults and LeadingAge members, but they are now possibly going to be cut as negotiations on the bill continues. Both your Senators and U.S. Representative must hear from you now as negotiations are moving quickly. NOW is the moment to ensure programs and resources are not cut as the process moves forward! For more information and to send a message to your U.S. Representative and Senators today go to https://mobilize4change.org/Rv4BBTh today.

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