Press Releases
Wenstrup Fights for Additional Funding to Skilled Nursing Facilities
Washington,
May 8, 2020
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Chris Krepich
(202-225-3164)
CINCINNATI— Today, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02) asked Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, urging that he provide additional funding to assist skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in preventing and combating COVID-19 spread.
“Skilled nursing facilities care for medically vulnerable populations in close quarters, and have gone to great lengths to protect these patients from the risk of COVID-19 infection. Like other health care providers, we should help support these increased costs to protect Americans and I urge Secretary Azar to provide them additional funding to help keep patients and caregivers safe and healthy,” said Congressman Wenstrup.
You can find the full letter below:
May 8, 2020
The Honorable Alex M. Azar II Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201
Dear Secretary Azar:
I am writing to urge that you consider further financial assistance for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) through the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. As SNFs serve some of the most vulnerable patients to the COVID-19 virus, it is vital that they have the necessary resources to protect their patients.
I am grateful for the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) rapid response to the public health emergency, and I appreciate your work to distribute the funds in the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Congress provided HHS with $100 billion to reimburse for COVID-19 related health care expenses or lost revenues. Congress provided an additional $75 billion to this fund through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Following congressional action, HHS has been working to administer this critical funding to our various healthcare providers as expeditiously and effectively as possible. SNFs received funding as part of the general allocations but did not receive any assistance as part of the hot spot tranche. Further, a number of SNFs are only paid by Medicaid. Many SNFs have low revenues and a high Medicaid population, which effected their reimbursement calculation from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund.
As you know, the patients treated at SNFs typically have multiple co-morbidities and are extremely susceptible to COVID-19. In order to protect this vulnerable patient population, SNFs have spent considerable resources to purchase the needed personal protective equipment (PPE) and to increase their health care professional workforce. This is especially true in COVID-19 hot-spot areas, where hospitals have seen an overwhelming patient surge and moved patients to SNFs in order to free up patient beds for COVID-19 patients.
Given the vulnerability of this patient population, I ask that you consider additional assistance for SNFs from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. I am encouraged by President Trump’s commitment to caring for our nation’s seniors during the COVID-19 public health emergency and look forward to working together on further actions to accomplish this goal.
Thank you for your consideration of this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. |