Coronavirus Daily Update: Unemployment Benefits Add-On Expiring; AHCA Seeks Provider Relief Fund Boost

What you need to know from Monday (July 20):

— The $600 COVID-19-inspired add-on to unemployment benefits is coming to an end after this week. Normal unemployment benefits will continue to be paid out, but no plan to extend the federal benefit has been announced. Despite the unemployment boost coming to an end, rising unemployment rates haven’t slowed down; last week, over 1 million more unemployment claims were reported. Less money during unemployment could help home-based care operators get certain workers back. Previously, the unemployment benefits had been too tough for agencies to match at times.

— The U.S. passed 140,000 deaths due to COVID-19, which currently accounts for more than a quarter of deaths from the virus worldwide. On Saturday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval to Quest Diagnostics, which handles COVID-19 testing, to conduct “pool testing,” according to NPR. That would allow multiple samples to be tested at the same time. If results come back negative, all the samples are negative. If a positive test comes back, individual tests are required.

— A new relief package is supposed to roll out from Washington, D.C., in the coming days, but there are divisions between the Senate GOP majority and the White House that are making it harder than expected, according to the AP. Reportedly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has an idea for what should be prioritized in the new package. “The package from McConnell had been quietly crafted behind closed doors for weeks and was expected to include $75 billion to help schools reopen, reduced unemployment benefits alongside a fresh round of direct $1,200 cash payments to Americans, and a sweeping five-year liability shield against coronavirus lawsuits,” AP’s Lisa Mascaro wrote. HHCN has further details here.

— With rumors of the new package swirling, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) sent an open letter to Congress, urging them to consider more prioritized testing for at-risk members in long-term care settings as well as $100 billion more in relief funding for long-term care providers, among other requests.

— A community-based palliative care benefit is gaining traction, according to Hospice News. A slew of home-based care providers are either already in the palliative care space or are interested in getting into it — and palliative care has been especially relevant during the COVID-19 outbreak. A specific benefit could provide another revenue stream for providers moving forward.

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