Nursing homes report highest COVID case totals to-date, plead to Congress for help
The nation’s top nursing home and assisted living association released a report Monday indicating that COVID-19 cases in such facilities have now rocketed past peak levels reported back in May.
In its recent update, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living painted a dire picture for the country’s most vulnerable and noted that personal protective equipment shortages remain a “major concern” for these long-term care communities.
“With the recent major spikes of COVID cases in many states across the country, we were very concerned this trend would lead to an increase in cases in nursing homes and unfortunately it has,” President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL Mark Parkinson said Aug. 17. “This is especially troubling since many nursing homes and other long term care facilities are still unable to acquire the personal protective equipment and testing they need to fully combat this virus.”
Parkinson added that cases had been on the decline, but said this new spike is directly attributable to Sun Belt states. In fact, 78% of new cases in U.S. nursing homes came from that region by the close of July, with 69% of COVID-related deaths tied to the growing caseload in the area.
According to Parkinson, assisted living communities haven’t received the funding needed to combat the virus. He called on Congress for help, urging the feds to dole out $100 billion for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Provider Relief Fund, with a “sizeable” portion set aside for long-term healthcare orgs, including the more than 14,000 facilities represented by the AHCA/NCAL.
On a similar note, the Trump Administration on Friday issued a statement claiming CMS has handed out more than $15 million in civil money penalties to upwards of 3,400 nursing homes for failing to meet infection control mandates and COVID-19 data reporting requirements.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the fines are meant to hold nursing homes accountable for the health and safety of its residents.
“Now more than ever, nursing homes must be vigilant in adhering to federal guidelines related to infection control to prevent the spread of infectious disease, including COVID-19,” Verma added in a statement. “We will continue to hold nursing homes accountable and work with state and local leaders to protect the vulnerable population residing in America’s nursing homes.”
Read the updated report here, along with Verma’s full comments here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.