Sen. Daines Announces Montana Assisted Living Facilities Now Eligible for New Funding Following Direct Request

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on Sept. 2:

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana's assisted living facilities may now apply for funding under the Provider Relief Fund to protect their patients and continue providing care throughout the pandemic. This follows Daines' direct request to the Administration to ensure assisted living facilities receive support under the Provider Relief Fund to care for and protect Montana's most vulnerable.

"Expanding the Provider Relief Fund to assisted living facilities will ensure that Montana's frontline providers are equipped to care for and keep Montana's most vulnerable safe," Daines said. "I'm glad the Administration acted on my request to get our assisted living facilities the support they need."

While nursing homes in Montana and across the country have received funding allocated from the Provider Relief Fund to help cover the costs associated with protecting residents and staff from COVID-19, including testing, personal protective equipment, and staffing, assisted living facilities have largely been left out of support from the program up to this point. Montana's assisted living facilities will now be able to request funding from the Provider Relief Fund to help minimize the financial hardships of increased expenses caused by COVID-19 to better protect and serve their residents. Helpful information for these providers can be found at the Provider Relief Fund website.

Daines fought to secure this funding through the bipartisan CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program and the Health Care Enhancement Act.

For more information on the announcement, click here https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/09/01/trump-administration-announces-provider-relief-fund-application-for-assisted-living-facilities.html.

Last month, Daines sent a letter to Governor Steve Bullock regarding the lack of reporting of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in Montana, urging him to make this information publicly available to improve senior care, help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.

Following Daines' request, it was reported that there have been 311 COVID-19 cases in Montana's long term care facilities and assisted living facilities and 33 COVID-19 related deaths.

Background:

Daines has been leading the efforts in the Senate to ensure Montana's senior living facilities have the support they need during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 28th, 2020, Daines sent a letter to Governor Steve Bullock regarding the lack of reporting of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in Montana. Daines is calling on the Governor to make this information publicly available to improve senior care, help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.

On August 12th, 2020, Daines sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar urging the inclusion of senior living providers in a future allocation from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund.

On July 6th, 2020, Daines introduced the Emergency Support for Nursing Homes and Elder Justice Reform Act of 2020 to support the health and safety of Montana seniors during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and extend funding for vital Elder Justice Act programs.

On June 9th, 2020, Senator Daines announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would be distributing additional relief funds to assist our most vulnerable Montanans receiving care in safety-net hospitals, assisted living facilities, and home and community-based settings.

On May 22nd, 2020, Senator Daines announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would be directing $15,615,000 to 60 Montana nursing facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On April 16th, 2020, Senator Daines sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Azar urging the department to direct funding from the Coronavirus economic relief package to support nursing homes, skilled nursing centers, and senior living communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.