COVID-19 Medicaid Bulletin Article Summary #68

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #68: Expedited Hardship Advances and Retroactive Targeted Rate Increases for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Adult Care Homes Serving COVID-positive Patients

NC Medicaid is directing increased financial assistance to North Carolina Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and Adult Care Homes (ACH) to support addressing the increased costs of caring for COVID positive (COVID+) residents in a congregate care setting. This targeted assistance, which is retroactive to April 1, 2020, is outlined in Special Bulletin COVID-19 #68, and addresses:

• Increased cost of heightened safety and health practices required to limit the spread of COVID-19 in a congregate care facility in which at least two individuals have been confirmed as COVID+
• Facilitation of safe and timely discharge of COVID+ patients from acute health care settings to residential settings for convalescence and/or rehabilitation (“COVID-Response”)

While, this financial assistance addresses two provider types that are currently experiencing extreme challenges in limiting the spread of COVID-19, NC Medicaid continues to consider potential rate adjustments for other provider types that address COVID-related care needs of Medicaid beneficiaries.