The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) began distributing the $7.5 billion in rural relief from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) today, and indicated that they anticipate making payments from Phase 4 of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) in December and continue through January 2022.

As part of the Don’t Leave Assisted Living Behind, Again campaign, Argentum sent a follow-up letter to President Biden yesterday, reiterating the concerns of senior living providers and calling on the administration to prioritize the Phase 4 provider relief methodology for assisted living, along with our requests for vaccine/testing support and inclusion in the Build Back Better plan.

Argentum sent a letter yesterday to President Biden relaying the urgent needs of senior living providers, and formally kicked off its latest campaign, “Don’t Leave Assisted Living Behind, Again.” This effort calls attention to the continued disparities in relief and support that has been made available to senior living, and the need to rectify it moving forward, including with the Phase 4 PRF payments.

Earlier this morning, HHS announced they would be releasing $25.5 billion in provider relief, to include $17 billion in Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) allocations and $8.5 billion in funding specifically from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) dedicated to rural health providers. We have confirmed that assisted living facilities are included in the definition of “provider” for phase 4 relief, but we are continuing to seek clarification on the specific distribution criteria. Argentum has been calling on the Biden administration for months to release additional funds and to ensure funds are targeted and equitable for senior living providers. We greatly appreciate your engagement in our “Release the PRF” campaign over the past several weeks that has helped apply pressure to the administration on the needs of providers.

Argentum is launching a targeted five-week campaign today to urge the Biden administration to release the remaining provider relief funds (PRF) as expeditiously as possible (see press release). The campaign is intended to increase pressure on the White House, which has full authority to release the PRF, through direct outreach to the administration, grassroots engagement, strategic media placements, and congressional support. Each week of the campaign will feature a different theme and will ask for active engagement among everyone in the senior living industry to ensure our message is amplified as loud as possible.

Earlier today, the Biden Administration released its budget request to Congress, seeking $6 trillion in spending to include both the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan and the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan. The Jobs plan and Families plan form the core of the administration’s Build Back Better agenda and include an investment of $400 billion to expand access to long-term services and supports for older Americans and strengthen the care workforce. More information on the president’s budget is included in the Appendix document, including specifics on program funding proposals.

The White House released a fact sheet earlier this week on the Biden Administration's priorities for older Americans. Along with highlighting a presidential proclamation to declare May 2021 as Older Americans Month, the fact sheet calls attention to the proposed investment of $400 billion to expand access to long-term services and supports for older Americans, specifically referencing assisted living facilities among the places that older adults receive care.

Earlier today, Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) began circulating a sign-on letter to members of Congress, asking the Biden administration to allocate remaining provider relief fund dollars to senior living providers. The sign-on letter is a companion to the sign-on letter being led by Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Both letters underscore the critical need of senior living communities and amplify the message Argentum has been sending to the administration.

Earlier today, President Biden signed into law H.R. 1799, the “PPP Extension Act of 2021,” which extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application deadline to May 31, 2021, and extends the PPP program through June 30, 2021. Argentum supported this measure to provide additional time for eligible providers to apply for relief through the program before it closes.

Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are leading a bipartisan sign-on letter to HHS asking the Biden Administration to allocate remaining provider relief fund dollars to senior living providers.