More federal support is needed to support New York nursing homes and assisted-living facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), and his Republican colleagues from New York, recently told leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“To protect the health and safety of central New York nursing home residents and providers, I’m leading an effort to urge congressional leaders to provide additional funding for local skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities,” Rep. Katko said on Aug. 3. “We must build on the CARES Act and provide local adult care facilities with the funds they need to purchase COVID-19 testing, PPE, and other protective resources that keep residents and staff safe during the pandemic.”
Among the four members who joined Rep. Katko in signing a recent letter sent to House leaders were U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Tom Reed (R-NY), who urged more financial assistance be included in upcoming pandemic-relief legislation under debate in Congress.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the nation, our country’s seniors are severely at risk. Seniors are significantly more likely to experience infection and serious complications as a result of COVID-19,” the lawmakers wrote. “Nursing homes and adult care facilities nationwide have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, jeopardizing the health and safety of their residents and staff.”
New York currently requires that all personnel and residents of nursing homes and adult care facilities, including assisted living facilities, be tested for the coronavirus twice per week. The more-frequent and critical testing requirements have financially strained these facilities, which are already facing budget shortfalls due to the pandemic, according to the members’ letter.
“While Congress took initial steps to provide relief to some of these facilities, the funding was a mere fraction of the support needed to ensure that senior citizens remain safe and healthy during this pandemic,” Rep. Katko and his colleagues wrote.
The lawmakers applauded the initial $394 million of funding allocated to New York under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, but said it “does not provide sufficient funding for skilled nursing facilities and leaves assisted living and other adult care facilities out entirely.”
“We must do more,” wrote the members.
In May, with more than 6,000 nursing home deaths reported in New York State adult care facilities, Rep. Katko and several colleagues also urged the New York State Attorney General, as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to launch an independent review of the state’s nursing home policy.