Nursing Homes May Qualify for Performance-Based Provider Relief Funds

As we reported last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it was developing “performance indicators” for distribution of an additional $2 billion to nursing homes this fall.  On September 3, 2020, HHS published the metrics for evaluating performance for these performance-based incentive payments.  Qualified nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities that report data through the National Healthcare Safety Network long-term care facility (LTCF) COVID-19 module will be measured against a baseline level of infection in the community where the facility is located.  Against this baseline, facilities will have performance measured on: (1) ability to keep new COVID infection rates low among residents; and (2) ability to keep COVID mortality low among residents. There will be four individual performance periods (September, October, November, and December) each with $500 million available.  Nursing homes will not have to apply to receive a share of this $2 billion incentive payment allocation, but will need to agree to the applicable Terms and Conditions.