Caring for Recipients, Protecting the Workforce and Supporting Provider Sustainability

Examine the Immediate Issues and Opportunities Facing Long-Term Care Providers—and Look Ahead at How to Build a Stronger Future—at a New Webinar Series From Manatt Health.

The nation’s nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, inpatient rehabilitation centers and home care providers are at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis. Roughly 2.5 million seniors and other medically fragile Americans receive care in congregate care settings, while more than 10 million require assistance at home or in their communities. Caring for those at highest risk of contracting severe cases of COVID-19, long-term care (LTC) providers are dealing with overwhelming challenges. They must care for their patients while protecting their workers and keeping their businesses operating efficiently and in compliance with evolving federal and state rules. As the primary payer of both nursing home care and home- and community-based services, state Medicaid programs are working in partnership with providers to help contain and mitigate the spread of the virus.

In a new two-part webinar series, Manatt Health explores the critical issues states and LTC providers are facing now—and provides a road map for building a stronger future.

Part One: “Long-Term Care in the Time of COVID-19: Caring for Recipients, Protecting the Workforce and Supporting Provider Sustainability,” Monday, June 8, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.

Understand the immediate changes and challenges that the LTC system is facing in response to COVID-19, and learn how to respond effectively in a constantly shifting environment. Key topics include:

• The diversity, vulnerability and special considerations of populations receiving care in different types of facilities and community-based settings
• The regulatory flexibilities granted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ease regulatory barriers that may inhibit access to LTC; maximize workforce capacity and leverage telehealth and alternative sites of care to support service levels while protecting patients and workers; and minimize administrative burden to maintain focus on response efforts
• New funding opportunities available to states and providers authorized under emergency federal legislation and new federal guidance, including provider rate increases and retainer payments, enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid-covered services, and Medicare advance payments
• Key authorities relevant to LTC providers, including 1915(c) waiver appendix K, 1115 waivers, 1135 waivers, the HHS final rule and guidance, and disaster relief state plan amendments (SPAs)
• A review of Washington State’s 1115 waiver, recently approved by CMS and the first focused specifically on combating the impacts of COVID-19
• Examples of recent state-level activities, including executive orders