CARES Act funding available for skilled nursing facilities

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 12/09/2020 09:30 AM PST

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CARES Act funding available for skilled nursing facilities

The Health Care Authority (HCA) is sending you this notification to inform you of new incentive payments that are available related to the federal CARES Act.

What is it?

The overarching goal of this program is to make hospital beds available for patients. This would be made possible by transitioning patients, as appropriate, to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). While this supports the state’s COVID-19 response effort, the patient does not need to be COVID-19 positive to be eligible.

If an SNF is willing to accept an Apple Health (Medicaid) client who is currently in a community hospital, the SNF will receive $6000 from the CARES Act after admission. This is applicable to clients whose only payment source for that service is Apple Health and who are new admissions to the facility.

This program has both a very limited time frame and a funding cap, so acting quickly is critical. HCA is able to offer this incentive to the first 150 confirmed clients admitted. This applies to admissions between the dates of November 30, 2020, and December 31, 2020.

I'm an interested SNF. How can I participate?

This program is being coordinated with the Apple Health Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) for individual clients ready for discharge.

SNFs need to continue to respond to admission inquiries from community hospitals and MCOs to support appropriate admissions to their facility. SNFs and hospitals that have questions about the process should contact the MCOs directly at:

AMG
Annette Kuhls, RN, BSN, CCM
Director, PH Utilization Management/Case Management
Medicaid Region 1, Washington
705 5th Ave S, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104
annette.kuhls@anthem.com
Phone: (206) 305-5576
CCW
Leona M Parker, RN, BSN MBA
Senior Manager, Inpatient Utilization Management & Discharge Planning
Leona.M.Parker@coordinatedcarehealth.com
Phone: (253) 244-3626
CHPW
Cyndi Stilson, RN, BSN, CCM
Manager of Transitions of Care
Cyndi.stilson@chpw.org
Phone: (206) 613-8817
Fax: (206) 652-7091
MHW
Laurie McCraney - UM Director
Laurie.McCraney@molinahealthcare.com
Phone: (888) 562-5442 ext. 141572
UHC
Marci Brand, RN, CCM
Interim Director of Medical Clinical Operations
United Healthcare Community Plan of Washington
marci_brand@uhc.com
Phone: (952) 202-4875

What is the involvement of the Health Care Authority?

HCA's role in the program is as follows:

Paying the $6000 incentive to the SNF who admits an Apple Health clients
Coordinating this effort with the MCOs to ensure appropriate placement.

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, please work with the client’s MCO. Please send general program inquiries via email.

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program, and the COFA Islander Health Care Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

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Nondiscrimination

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.