CEO Update 97
HHS Announces $30 Billion in Immediate Covid-19 Relief Funding for Providers
HHS announced on Friday it is distributing $30 billion immediately to healthcare providers fighting the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. The funding is the first portion of the $100 billion allotted to hospitals and other providers as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that President Trump signed on March 27.
The funding will arrive via direct deposit to eligible providers starting on Friday, April 10. HHS’ announcement said the money is in the form of payments, not loans, so the money will not need to be repaid.
Eligible healthcare providers include all facilities and providers that received Medicare fee-for-service reimbursements in 2019. According to HHS, payments to practices that are part of larger medical groups will be sent to the group’s central billing office. Click here to learn how HHS will determine the payments and what eligible providers need to do.
To receive funding, providers must agree not to seek to collect out-of-pocket payments from a Covid-19 patient that are greater than what the patient would have otherwise been required to pay if an in-network provider had provided care, HHS said.
HHS has created a public website that shows all Covid-19 grant and cooperative agreement awards, which features a U.S. map detailing the amounts awarded by states, graphics highlighting the numbers of awards, amounts awarded by agency, and more.
NABH Sends Latest Covid-19 Recommendations to Vice President Pence and Hill Leaders
NABH on Thursday sent Vice President Mike Pence and top Senate and House leaders a six-page letter outlining critical behavioral healthcare recommendations as lawmakers prepare for the next round of legislation to provide relief during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The letter highlights behavioral healthcare provider needs related to payment issues, health information technology, telehealth, parity compliance, medication treatment for opioid use disorder, youth services, and additional emergency funding needs.
Please visit NABH’s enhanced Covid-19 resources page for all pandemic-related correspondence, guidance, and external webpage links.
NABH and Other Behavioral Health Organizations Request Emergency Covid-19 Relief
Earlier this week, NABH joined more than 35 other associations on a request for $38.5 billion in emergency funding for behavioral health organizations during Covid-19.
The appropriations request calls for the $38.5 billion in emergency supplemental funding for direct payments to behavioral health organizations to ensure they can remain open and operating during the pandemic. A significant portion of the funding would be set aside for behavioral healthcare organizations enrolled in Medicaid.
Also this week, NABH also supported a Mental Health Liaison Group letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma that requested CMS immediately expand Medicare coverage of telehealth to allow audio-only communications and waive Medicare’s current requirement for audio-video connecting during the pandemic.
The Joint Commission Releases FAQs on Healthcare Provider Face Masks Brought from Home
The Joint Commission (TJC) this week released frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding TJC’s position statement on using face masks brought from home.
TJC’s Office of Quality and Patient Safety has received many complaints from healthcare workers about inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as a lack of N95 masks for performing aerosolizing procedures or working without routinely wearing a mask when exposed to a large number of patients who could have Covid-19.
“If a hospital cannot provide N95 masks for staff performing these procedures or working in the immediate vicinity, staff should be allowed to bring in their own masks,” TJC noted.
Click here to read the FAQ document, which is also posted on NABH’s Covid-19 resources page.
CDC Reports National Suicide Rate Increased 35% Between 1999 and 2018
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week reported the U.S. suicide rate increased 35% between 1999 and 2018.
During that period, suicide rates among females were highest for those between the ages of 45 and 64, while the rates were highest among males for those aged 75 and older. Meanwhile, in 2018, the suicide rate for males was 3.7 times the rate for females.
According to the CDC, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States.
Fact of the Week
The U.S. suicide rate increased on average about 1% per year from 1999 to 2006 and then by 2% per year from 2006 through 2018.
For questions or comments about this CEO Update, please contact Jessica Zigmond.