Assisted-Living Centers Get Much-Needed Virus Aid for First Time
They’ve weathered the pandemic better than nursing homes but have been shut out of relief packages
A mural that reads "Heroes Work Here" is painted outside the Maple Pointe Assisted Living - A Chelsea Community facility in Rockville Centre, New York, on June 9.
Photographer: Johnny Milano/BloombergAssisted-living facilities received a much-needed hand from the federal government Tuesday when for the first time some were given access to aid that was previously restricted largely to nursing homes.
The Department of Health and Human Services program set aside $15 billion for providers that participate in certain state programs like Medicaid and haven’t received any aid yet. That opens a window to some assisted-living facilities, which had been shut out of previous rounds since their residents don’t rely on the federal Medicare program, as many nursing homes do.