The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that private-pay assisted living/memory care providers will be eligible to apply for CARES Act Provider Relief Funds under the current Phase 2 General Distribution round of COVID-19 funding.  

Like other providers applying for Phase 2 funding, eligible assisted living communities will receive 2 percent of their annual revenue from patient care, according to the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), part of the American Health Care Association.

In response, Scott Tittle, executive director of NCAL, said, “This financial aid is welcome news for the tens of thousands of assisted living providers and the hundreds of thousands of seniors they serve.”

For six months, he said, assisted living caregivers have been diverting significant resources to help acquire personal protective equipment, testing, and additional support for staff.

“Funding from the federal government will help ensure assisted living providers continue these efforts to keep their residents and staff safe, as well as remain a reliable long term care option for their local communities,” Tittle said.

“Coupled with the news that rapid, antigen tests are being delivered to assisted living communities across the country, we greatly appreciate HHS for recognizing the importance of supporting our long term care sector during this crisis.”

HHS also had announced that the shipments of the rapid COVID-19 testing equipment will come from a supply of 150 million ordered from test maker Abbott Laboratories.