4/27/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On April 27th, Governor Baker gave a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update on Hospital Capacity, PPE, Nursing Homes, Mobile-Testing, and Funding for Residential Service Providers.

Here is the summary.

Hospital Capacity

  • Currently, 56% of beds are available for patients. 

  • Hospitals are seeing an increase of people seeking non COVID-19 related medical treatment.

PPE

  • As of yesterday, 6.5 million pieces of PPE have been delivered. 

Nursing Homes

  • In total, MA has 386 nursing homes, 255 assisted living residencies, and 93 rest homes.  

    • Of these, there are approximately 38,000 residents in nursing homes, 16,500 in assisted living residencies, and 3,000 in rest homes. 

  • To date, 10,031 residents and staff working in long term care facilities have tested positive in approximately 300 facilities. 

    • 56% of the state’s total COVID-19 related deaths have been at these facilities.  

  • The state is introducing an additional $130 million available for nursing homes, available on May 1st. 

    • This will provide assistance to address staffing shortages, implement state of the art infection control, cleaning services, personal protective equipment, and other support services. 

    • This funding will be allocated to nursing homes that are meeting a benchmark for certain criteria to ensure these privately-operated facilities are working in a safe manner. 

  • The state is also providing nursing homes with temporary staff support. This includes: 

    • Clinical response teams of 120 nurses and certified nursing assistants that can be deployed in teams to facilities in emergency situations.

    • On the ground crisis management support from experts.

    • Deployment of the national guard to help with logistical and environmental support. 

Mobile-Testing

  • To date, the mobile-testing initiative has conducted testing at more than 400 facilities, including nursing homes, rest homes, and assisted living residencies with the help of the National Guard. 

    • They have completed over 18,300 tests for staff and residents at these locations. 

Funding for Residential Service Providers

  • MA is announcing a second phase of funding, $44 million, for residential service providers who contract across MA with Health and Human Services. 

    • The funding will be used to address unplanned for and also un-budgeted services and items in response to the pandemic. This includes: 

      • Increased staffing, overtime and staffing related costs, infection control, personal protective equipment supplies, and other supports that directly benefit staff.

      • Providers will be required to report to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services on the actual use of the funds. 

    • This funding, in addition to the first phase of $95 million that was announced on March 30th, brings the total additional support for residential programs to $139 million during the pandemic. 

  • MA will be seeking reimbursement from the federal government at the 75/25% allocation methodology, which could be up to $105 million in reimbursements to the state. 

  • Across the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, a number of agencies work with 238 residential service providers in MA to ensure the health and wellbeing of over 20,500 individuals from various backgrounds including: 

    • Children, youth, and families

    • Individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. 

    • Survivors of sexual violence

    • Youth in the custody of Department of Youth Services and Children and Families

Please continue to practice social distancing, stay home as much as possible, and wear face coverings wherever you go.