Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House; Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader; Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader; and Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader - Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader;

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer:

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. 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.

In an attempt to limit the spread of the virus in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidance that recommends weekly testing for all nursing home personnel and residents. Although New York initially released shifting and unclear guidance for nursing home patients and staff, the State now requires all personnel and residents of nursing homes and adult care facilities, including assisted living facilities, be tested twice per week. While critical to the health of staff and residents, frequent testing requirements have put an immense financial strain on nursing homes and adult care facilities that are already facing tremendous budget shortfalls due to the pandemic.

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. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act established the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), which includes $4.9 billion in funding for skilled nursing facilities. At this time, $394 million of this funding has been allocated to New York State skilled nursing facilities. While we applaud the initial relief efforts of the CARES Act, the PRF does not provide sufficient funding for skilled nursing facilities and leaves assisted living and other adult care facilities out entirely. In light of the tragic number of COVID-19 deaths in our nation's nursing and assisted living facilities, we must do more.

To protect the health of our nation's senior citizens and health professionals, we urge you to include significant funding for all adult care facilities, including skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities, in any future COVID-19 legislation.

Thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter.