OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Gov. Pete Ricketts had a news conference at 10 a.m. Monday to announce additional support for long-term care facilities amid the pandemic.
The Department of Health and Human Services Division of Medicaid and long-term care Interim Director Jeremy Brunssen will be in attendance as well.
Four years ago, a CDC grant enabled UNMC to assist the state in developing the Infection Control Assessment and Promotion Program, or ICAPP, to help healthcare workers learn methods and tools to help slow the spread of infection — a program that has paid big dividends during the pandemic, Ricketts said.
The state is now working to obtain a temporary increase for the Medicaid per diem. increate rate by $20 per day — on a $200 daily bill, on average — retroactively from May 1 through the end of the calendar year, Brunssen said. This would allow for claims to be reprocessed in order to bring more funds — as much as $40 million — to long-term care facilities in Nebraska that participate in Medicaid, he said. The process would implement immediately, with payments going out this month in order to limit the burden on those facilities.
Heath Boddy of the Nebraska Health Care Association also asked Nebraska communities to keep long-term care facilities in mind as they navigate the pandemic.
“I just want to implore Nebraska communities... Your behavior as a community drastically affects our ability as nursing facilities and assisted living facilities to keep the virus out, specifically your willingness to wear a mask, your willing to social distance, your willingness to follow the Three Cs,” he said.
Boddy noted that this is of particular importance as families begin making holiday plans, and to be mindful that the community’s actions do have an impact on vulnerable populations.
“It’s not just actions that will affect you,” he said.
The substantial financial support Nebraska officials are working on now will have an immediate impact on survivability, particularly for those facilities that are not part of a larger long-term healthcare system, Boddy said. Brunssen said there are about 200 long-term care facilities in the state.
All officials on Monday noted their appreciation for the hard work being done by the staff at such facilities.
Long-term care facilities across the state have been working tirelessly, and are tired, said Jenifer Acierno, CEO of Leading Age Nebraska.
Other updates
Executive orders: During the news conference, Ricketts also noted his recent executive orders:
- Allowing certain local government officials to attend meetings virtually when in isolation or quarantine.
- Allowing pollworkers to help out at polls across county lines.
On voting: Encouraging Nebraskans to “show a little grace” during the voting process, which has caused long lines especially in recent days, Ricketts reminded voters that it’s too late to mail in ballots; they must be dropped off in order to be counted for the election. The governor said he stood in line Friday morning to vote, waiting from about 8:15 a.m., and was able to cast his vote around 10:30 a.m., and complimented the Douglas County Election Commission on the process and their hard work making it a manageable experience for voters.
The governor encouraged anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 on Election Day to avoid going to the polls.
On vaccines: Ricketts also said that he was assured by the White House last week on a governors’ phone call that COVID-19 vaccines will not require out-of-pocket payment of any kind.
On the Big Ten: Asked to comment on the Big Ten, the governor said he was disappointed the conference didn’t allow the Huskers to play a game against Tennessee-Chattanooga. “I think we could have managed it here,” he said, noting it would have allowed the Huskers to have another “data point” as bowl discussions take place later in the season.
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Gov. Ricketts announces additional long-term care support - WOWT
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