HHS announces assisted living facilities are eligible to apply for a general distribution

Some assisted living facilities have already successfully applied for funding under Phase 2 of the General Distribution. To support payments to assisted living facilities who may not bill Medicare or Medicaid, HHS has developed a curated list of assisted living facility Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from third party sources and HHS datasets. Providers with TINs on the curated list must meet other eligibility requirements including operating in good standing and not be excluded from receiving federal payments. As a next step, HHS will work with states and its partners to authenticate assisted living facilities not on the curated list. Please note that it may take additional time to validate an applicant’s TIN. If they receive the results of that validation after Sept. 13, they will still be able to complete and submit their application.

HHS developed the curated list of assisted living facilities from state licensing boards/organizations, the American Health Care Association (AHCA), National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), Argentum, Brookdale, and other assisted living groups.

The Phase 2 – General Distribution methodology will be based upon 2% of (revenues * percent of revenues from patient care) from the applicant’s most recent federal income tax return for 2017, 2018 or 2019 and with accompanying submitted tax documentation. Payments will be made to applicant providers who are on the filing TIN curated list submitted by state/territory Medicaid or CHIP agencies, the list of dental providers and assisted living facilities, the list of providers who received a Phase 1 – General Distribution payment or the list of CMS-approved Medicare Part A providers who experienced a change in ownership as of Aug. 10, 2020, or whose applications underwent additional validation by HHS.

“Patient care” means health care, services and supports, as provided in a medical setting, at home, or in the community to individuals who may currently have or be at risk for COVID-19, whereby HHS broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19. Assisted living facilities that are applying for Phase 2 – General Distribution funds may include patient care revenue that supports residents’ nutritional, housing, activities of daily living, and medical needs, including purchased services.

Resident fees that cover their accommodations can be considered patient service revenue.

Yes. The revenue from independent living units as a part of larger assisted or skilled nursing facilities fits within the definition of “patient care” applying for the Phase 2 – General Distribution.