CEO Update 122
HHS Releases Revised Guidance on Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements
In new guidance Thursday, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) offered some flexibility on how providers may use Provider Relief Funds (PRF) to recoup lost revenues related to the coronavirus this year.
NABH sent a letter to HHS early this month that urged the department to rescind the changes HHS made in its Sept. 19 guidance and instead rely on requirements that HHS issued in June. The association is pleased with the changes announced this week.
“Recipients may apply PRF payments toward lost revenue, up to the amount of the difference between their 2019 and 2020 actual patient care revenue,” HHS’ latest guidance noted. “If recipients do not expend PRF funds in full by the end of calendar year 2020, they will have an additional six months in which to use remaining amounts toward expenses attributable to coronavirus but not reimbursed by other sources, or to apply toward lost revenues in an amount not to exceed the difference between 2019 and 2021 actual revenue.”
In September, the department’s said “Recipients may apply PRF payments toward lost revenue, up to the amount of their 2019 net gain from healthcare related sources. Recipients that reported negative net operating income from patient care in 2019 may apply PRF amounts to lost revenues up to a net zero gain/loss in 2020. If recipients do not expend PRF funds in full by the end of calendar year 2020, they will have an additional six months in which to use remaining amounts toward expenses attributable to coronavirus but not reimbursed by other sources, or to apply toward lost revenues in an amount not to exceed the 2019 net gain.”
HHS’s directive this week also said additional provider types—including residential treatment facilities—are eligible for the Phase 3 Provider Relief Fund distribution.
“We have worked closely with stakeholders across the healthcare system to ensure that the Provider Relief Fund reaches all American healthcare providers that have been impacted by the pandemic,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a news release on Oct. 22. “Today, we are expanding the pool of eligible providers to include a broader array of practices, such as residential treatment facilities, chiropractors, and vision care providers that may not have already received payments.”
NASHP Releases Care Coordination for Standards for Children and Youth with Special Needs
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) has released The National Care Coordination Standards for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs to help state officials and other stakeholders develop and improve high-quality care coordination for children.
According to NASHP, the study’s goals are to identify and assess the need for coordinated care, engage families in the care-coordination process, build a strong care-coordination workforce, and develop team-based communication process to better serve children and families.
The association also released a blog post from NASHP staff to accompany the report, which noted that historically, care coordination researchers and policymakers have focused primarily on adult populations.
JAMA Examines Alcohol Use in U.S. Adults Before and During Covid-19 Pandemic
New research from JAMA that examines the consequences associated with alcohol use in U.S. adults from before to during the Covid-19 pandemic found that excessive alcohol use may lead to or exacerbate mental health problems.
According to the letter, Nielsen reported a 54% increase in national sales of alcohol for the week ending March 21, 2020 compared with the year-earlier period. Online sales, meanwhile, increased by 262% from 2019.
JAMA’s findings showed that, on average, alcohol was consumed one day more per month by three of four adults. Meanwhile, for women, there was also a significant increase of .18 days of heavy driving from a 2019 baseline of .44 days, reflecting an increase of 41% over baseline.
“These data provide evidence of changes in alcohol use and associated consequences during the Covid-19 pandemic,” the research letter said. “In addition to a range of negative physical health associations, excessive alcohol use may lead to or worsen existing mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, which may themselves be increasing during Covid-19.”
Manatt Analysis Highlights Medicaid Telehealth Policies States Can Make Permanent to Ensure Access for Children and Families
Consulting firm Manatt has published an analysis of Medicaid telehealth policies that states can implement permanently to ensure access to care for children and families.
Developed in table format, the analysis offers a “policy domain,” such as video visits, and then provides some background information and a policy opportunity post-Covid. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health funded the study.
Separately this month, the Congressional Research Service published a brief paper, Medicaid Telehealth Policies in Response to Covid-19, which includes a summary of certain emergency-related authorities under Medicaid Disaster Relief State Plan Amendments.
Please Complete the 2020 NABH Annual Survey!
The 2020 NABH Annual Survey will close on Saturday, Oct. 31.
NABH members should have received personalized links to the survey from consulting firm Dobson DaVanzo. If you have not received a link, please click here and follow the instructions to submit your survey today. Your feedback will help inform and improve NABH’s advocacy efforts.
Thank you for your time!
Fact of the Week
Nearly one third of millennials have a behavioral health condition, and rates are rising by double digits, according to a new report from The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
For questions or comments about this CEO Update, please contact Jessica Zigmond.