The federal government is rewarding nursing homes it deems successful at battling COVID-19 in a second round of funding announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The agency says it will distribute $523 million in performance payments to more than 9,000 nursing home nationwide for reducing COVID-19 infections and deaths between September and October. The move is part of an incentive-based program HHS started in August using $2 billion dollars from the Provider Relief Fund. The agency announced the first round of payments in August, totaling $331 million.
What You Need To Know
- HHS is giving millions to nursing homes for successful infection control
- Freedom Square of Seminole is on the list
- The facility experienced on of Florida’s deadliest nursing home outbreaks
A total of 388 nursing homes in Florida received payments this time around, totaling nearly $24 million. The agency cites proper infection control practices as a way facilities are reaching its criteria for what’s considered successful improvements, putting the focus on those best practices at a time when the general public is more focused on the roll out of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“Infection prevention is always important,” said Lindsay Peterson, a researcher with USF’s School of Aging Studies. “It’s going to be awhile before all nursing home residents are protected.”
Peterson said 57% of all nursing homes in the country have at least one infection control violation between 2017 and 2019, leading to potentially deadly problems exposed early on in the pandemic as COVID-19 made its way through long term care facilities.
One of the deadliest outbreaks in the state occurred at Freedom Square of Seminole, which includes several long-term care facilities on its campus.
Records show multiple infection prevention failures prior to the virus sweeping the vulnerable community and claiming more than 30 lives. The families of two people who died there have sued Freedom Square, claiming not enough was done to keep residents safe.
But now, the very latest numbers from the state show no COVID-19 cases there at all, and a quick check of the database for the HHS incentive payments show Freedom Square has received nearly $78 thousand.
Spectrum News reached out to HHS with concerns about Freedom Square’s history and was told the incentive program rewards nursing homes for a point in time. And as long as facilities demonstrate improved infection control, they are eligible.
“All recipients must still comply with HHS terms and conditions for payments, and HHS conducts audits and quality control checks prior to the distribution of funds to ensure awardees are in good standing and are meeting program metrics. Again, the program seeks to reward infection control over a period of time. As long as nursing homes are demonstrating they have improved infection control relative to the communities in which they serve, for a given performance cycle, they are eligible for incentive funding,” said an HHS spokesperson.
We also reached out to Freedom Square to find out what changes have been made since the outbreak to now be considered successful by HHS. Executive Director Michael Mason sent the following statement:
“Freedom Square has taken many steps since the beginning of the pandemic to combat COVID-19. We have invested in a wide-range of services and equipment - from procuring personal protective equipment, like gowns, gloves, face shields, surgical masks and more, to investing in our infrastructure, including creating physical barriers, screening stations, COVID-19 related signage and a decentralized staff space.”
“Freedom Square has also identified best practices and continues to implement additional health and safety measures to protect our employees and residents. Steps Freedom Square has taken include establishing COVID-19 observation units, upgrading our laundry facility to ensure infection control effectiveness, requiring PPE training for donning and doffing equipment, and increasing the testing of both residents and employees utilizing rapid and PCR tests.”
The incentive funding from HHS comes with conditions on how it must be spent, which include costs for infection prevention improvements already made and those yet to come.
“These are things that have been needed and necessary for a long time and will into the future,” Peterson said.
Meanwhile, one prominent lawmaker is now calling on both Governor Ron DeSantis and HHS Secretary Alex Azar to investigate Freedom Square for mismanaging the pandemic. U.S. Congressman Charlie Crist made the announcement Wednesday, saying the facility failed to take even the most basic precautions.
“The families of those who have lost loved ones deserve nothing less than a full accounting of what went wrong and full accountability for those responsible,” Crist said.