Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced that $ 278 million of U.S. Rescue Plan (ARP) funds allocated by the General Assembly will be distributed to nursing homes, personal care homes and DHS long-term office assisted living residences. Living System (OLTL). An additional $ 5 million is dedicated to providing a grant of $ 15,000 per recipient for long-term care facilities to improve indoor air quality.

“COVID-19 has been a particularly serious threat to our long-term care system over the past year and a half, and DHS has done everything in our power to ensure that the supports we provide continue without interruption, ”said the acting secretary of DHS. Meg Snead. “This federal funding will help us continue this work and support both providers and recipients of our services over the coming months. ”

OLTL supports people with physical disabilities and the elderly, many of whom are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid for their long-term care needs. This includes over 100,000 Pennsylvanians who receive long-term services and supports through the Community HealthChoices program and over 45,000 Pennsylvanians who live in over 1,100 personal care homes and assisted living facilities regulated and licensed by OLTL. .

ARP funds are to be used for costs related to COVID-19 by nursing homes, personal care homes and assisted living facilities not otherwise reimbursed by the federal government, state or other funding sources . Of the $ 282 million in ARP funds, $ 247 million will be allocated to direct payments to nursing facilities. All care facilities currently eligible and enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, Medical Assistance, will automatically receive this funding as of September 15, 2021. Personal care homes and assisted living facilities will receive $ 30 million in ARP funds. Any nursing facility that is not registered with Medicaid, as well as all personal care homes and assisted living facilities, must complete the facility’s acceptance form and return it to OLTL for DHS to issue payment. .

DHS has published the amount each OLTL facility qualifies to receive on its website at https://www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Providers/Pages/Long-Term-Care-Providers.aspx.

DHS also provides a grant of up to $ 15,000 per approved application to qualified long-term care facilities to help long-term care facilities reduce the risk of transmission and occupant exposure to COVID-19. Nursing facilities, personal care homes, and assisted living facilities that require assistance with indoor air management strategies are encouraged to apply. More information and the grant application can be found here.

For more information, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin James – [email protected]

# # #