WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) has confirmed that assisted living operators are due to receive funds from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund.
The D.C.-based organization, along with other advocates for the seniors housing industry, have been lobbying and petitioning for months to make sure private-pay seniors housing would receive federal stimulus dollars in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This morning we received the most definitive news to date about an allocation of funds from the HHS Provider Relief Fund,” ASHA President David Schless wrote in an email to members. “On a call with a senior HHS official, we were informed that the private pay assisted living portal will open ‘very soon.’”
Though the HHS official did not specify the total dollar amount being allocated to assisted living, he said the formula will be based on 2 percent of a community’s 2019 gross revenue. That calculation is consistent with HHS’ most recent allocation methodology to other medical fields.
“While we have advocated for a skilled nursing-like methodology of a specific per community/per unit formula, this is nonetheless a very positive breakthrough for the industry,” wrote Schless. “We will have to wait to learn more about what this means and how this will work. We will report more information as it becomes available.”