Kentucky Nursing Homes Receive Nearly $11 Million in Additional Coronavirus Relief

Statement

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today 139 Kentucky nursing homes received a total of $10,947,338 in additional federal funding to combat the coronavirus. The funding, distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), was made available by the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Senator McConnell introduced the CARES Act, which became the largest economic rescue package in history, and led it to enactment in about a week.

"With promising signs of a vaccine on the horizon, now is not the time to lose focus on slowing the spread of this virus. I'm proud my CARES Act is continuing to invest in protecting Kentucky seniors and frontline workers," said Senator McConnell. "Kentucky's healthcare heroes have received over $1.3 billion so far to fight the coronavirus. I'd like to applaud these medical professionals for their excellence in keeping our Commonwealth's seniors healthy. As Senate Majority Leader, I will continue working to deliver additional relief for families, workers, small businesses, doctors and nurses."

In October, HRSA awarded $5.3 million to Kentucky nursing homes through performance-based incentive payments to slow the virus' spread. Today's payments recognize the nursing homes that have successfully reduced COVID-19 related infections and fatalities.

To date, Kentucky nursing homes have received more than $180 million from the CARES Act.

"This most recent monetary bonus for our quality outcomes and clinical success fighting COVID-19 helped bring much needed public recognition and stabilization to our industry in Kentucky at a very critical point in time!" said Joe Steier, President and CEO of Signature HealthCARE. The $10 million funding assistance for quality COVID-19 care to all Kentucky centers helps save our elders and our staff at a time when our front line healthcare heroes are fighting the hardest amidst great uncertainty. This much needed reward lets everyone know we are beating this virus and this funding will help us keep our doors open providing much needed care for some of the most vulnerable in our Kentucky communities. We remain grateful to Leader McConnell for fighting for our elders and frontline healthcare heroes again and helping get this done!"

"We are grateful for Senator McConnell's leadership and HHS's continuous support and consideration for Kentucky's most vulnerable," said Betsy Johnson, President of the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities. "Long-term care workers have been on the front lines in battling this dangerous virus and are exhausted. Congratulations to those providers who are receiving this essential funding for their residents and staff. We must keep our focus and attention on long-term care during the administration of this highly anticipated vaccine."

Senator McConnell's CARES Act has had a more than $13 billion impact in Kentucky. Senator McConnell's legislation has delivered $4 billion in relief to address urgent housing, transportation, healthcare, education and economic development priorities. Kentucky small businesses, farmers, and nonprofits accessed more than $5.2 billion in assistance through 50,000 PPP loans. Kentucky families have also received $4 billion in Economic Impact Payments from the U.S. Treasury.

Source