HRSA recently posted an updated FAQ on the ability for certain providers to submit additional documentation for consideration of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 payments. Argentum has pressed HRSA on the issue of “uncured” applicants and appreciates this change to allow providers that may have been incorrectly denied to be reconsidered for relief.

Argentum sent a letter to President Biden yesterday, reiterating the urgent needs of senior living facilities as additional COVID-19 response measures are considered in the wake of the Omicron variant.

Argentum sent a letter to President Biden and HHS Secretary Becerra today, imploring the administration to directly supply senior living facilities with COVID-19 testing supplies, resuming a federal program for vaccine and booster administration, and reiterating the need for targeted federal financial relief.

Argentum issued the following press release in response to yesterday's announcement by HHS and HRSA on the Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund allocations.

Argentum Calls Out Biden Administration for Indefensibly Low COVID Relief Payments for Senior Living Caregivers

One day after HHS/HRSA said it is releasing $9 billion in Provider Relief Funds, a closer look at the methodology used to determine payments for assisted living providers is severely lacking.

Later this week, HHS and HRSA are expected to begin distributing approximately $9 billion from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) to eligible health care providers. These funds are part of the $17 billion allocated in Phase 4 of the PRF, which was made possible in part due to Argentum's  advocacy efforts to save the PRF from a near-certain elimination and then to release the funds to providers.

As part of Argentum's ongoing "Don't Leave Assisted Living Behind, Again" campaign, this week we began circulating a petition that we will share with the Biden Administration, demonstrating the broad grassroots support for prioritizing relief and support to senior living providers.

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's latest campaign, “Don’t Leave Assisted Living Behind, Again,” is raising awareness across the country on the continued disparities in relief and support that has been made available to senior living.

As a reminder, the application for Phase 4 of the provider relief fund (PRF) will close tomorrow, October 26 at 11:59 pm ET.