WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made $25.5 billion in funds available starting Sept. 29th. HHS is now accepting applications for General Distribution Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments. HHS is also accepting requests for reconsideration of Phase 3 payment calculations.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Homecare
HomeCare magazine knows that the coronavirus outbreak will impact almost every aspect of how homecare businesses operate. This page is a way to stay abreast of the latest developments surrounding the virus as it affects home health agencies, home medical equipment providers and the aging in place community. We’ll post news updates, industry developments, evolving risks and online resources as we become aware of them, so check in regularly for up-to-date information.
There's no such thing as a free lunch
ATLANTA (September 28, 2021)—In light of the changing public health situation in the United States, Medtrade East is now requiring masks for the Oct. 18-20 show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
“Recent industry shows have required masks,” said York Schwab, associate show director, Medtrade East. “At this point, it’s the right decision for the health and safety of our exhibitors and attendees.”
BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 23, 2021)—On Sept. 9, the Biden administration announced that staff at Medicare and Medicaid-certified “facilities”—including home health agencies and likely home medical equipment providers—will be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine. Homecare providers should work now to get health care staff vaccinated to make sure they are in compliance when the rule takes effect, the government said.
Updated Sept. 10 at 8:22 a.m. Central, to reflect further industry reactions.
CLEARWATER & SARASOTA, Fla. (August 25, 2021)—Empath Health has announced a policy that requires colleagues, volunteers and vendors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The full-life care provider serving Tampa Bay and southwest Florida provides care and support for those with chronic and advanced illnesses and/or those dealing with grief. Suncoast Hospice and Tidewell Hospice are members of the Empath Health family of companies.
WASHINGTON, D.C. & OWINGS MILLS, Md. (August 24, 2021)—Increasing the vaccination rates among home health workers is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) in consultation with industry leaders, estimate a vaccination range of 40% to 90% depending on the company and the discipline of the caregiver.
Manufacturers & more respond to COVID-19 crisis overseas
Manufacturing & other trends for 2021 & beyond
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 30, 2021)—The American Association for Homecare’s (AAHomecare) payer relations team has been working with leaders at state and regional associations to direct relief from the March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the home medical equipment (HME) community. Those efforts bore their first fruit last week when MassHealth included a 10% Medicaid rate hike for HME as part of their plans to allocate Massachusetts’ share of the funds.
Updated July 27 at 1:34 p.m. with new information.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 27, 2021)—As new variants of COVID-19 are on the rise and vaccination rates are stalling around the country, LeadingAge joined leading health care organizations calling for requiring vaccines for all staff in long-term care and other health care settings.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2021)—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is issuing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect health care and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 15, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced important new information for recipients of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund (PRF). Below are the key changes:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2021)—As part of President Biden’s commitment to increasing access to vaccinations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an additional payment amount for administering in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to Medicare beneficiaries who have difficulty leaving their homes or are otherwise hard-to-reach.
Advice drawn from NAHC’s vaccine poll
HOUSTON (May 11, 2021)—Sewa International has spent more than $6 million in the last 15 days to procure lifesaving equipment such as oxygen concentrators, ventilators, BiPAP and CPAP machines as part of its “Help India Defeat COVID-19” campaign.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 23, 2021)—On April 21, the Biden Administration announced, as part of its goal to get more Americans vaccinated, that it is calling on all employers to provide paid time off for employees to recover from any side effects of the vaccine. The administration also announced a tax credit to offset the costs of providing leave.
How one provider supplied her community & others during the pandemic
CAESAREA, Israel (April 12, 2021)—Itamar Medical Ltd., a medical device and digital health company focused on the integration of sleep apnea management into the cardiac patient care pathway, announced results from a recent survey to health care professionals that covered sleep testing dynamics in their practices during 2020 and expectations for future use of home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) versus polysomnography (PSG) testing performed in sleep laboratories.
Homecare can offer solutions & a new career for many
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a continuation of the phased-in participation of the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for home health agencies (HHAs) in Florida and North Carolina for an additional 90 days, due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (April 2, 2021)—Always Best Care Senior Services, a senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced that it has been selected as the only primary non-medical organization to be awarded with a grant to facilitate rapid Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 testing that will further help to ensure the safety of caregivers, clients, patients and their families.