At the December 7 Joint Committee on Appropriations (JCA) meeting, the Bureau of Finance and Management (BFM) announced two new grant programs for health care providers utilizing leftover CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) from the state’s $1.25 billion distribution. The Healthcare High Impact program has an initial appropriation of $75 million for Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities. Distributions will be made on a licensed bed basis for facilities who apply for the program. Hospitals will receive $32 million total with $11,000 per bed, nursing facilities will receive $40 million total with $6,400 per bed, and Assisted Living will receive $3 million with $600 per bed. Providers will update their previously submitted CRF program applications to indicate that they are affirmatively applying for funds and to note which types of beds they are applying for (IE Hospital, SNF, AL, or Combination). The application portal will open next week and will be open for two weeks. Funding will be distributed as applications are approved, but are expected to be distributed no later than January. BFM also announced the Safety Net Program for the remaining community-based providers (Ex. Behavioral Health, CSPs, In-Home Providers, etc.) who will apply for a fund of $75 million. The distribution mechanism for that pool will be based on Medicaid revenues from prior years. View this brief explaining both proposed programs.
BFM also discussed the possibility for a Round 2 High Impact and Safety Net Distribution with remaining CRF funds at the end of the year. Members of the JCA expressed their support for a second round payment to healthcare with remaining CRF dollars that remain unspent.
SDAHO encourages providers to monitor the state’s COVID-19 Grants webpage and submit applications for this new funding.
