A bill passed last week by the Michigan legislature, if signed by the governor, will provide $414 million for healthcare providers via federal relief funding.

The package is part of a $1.2 billion proposal aimed at addressing healthcare needs and providing more COVID-19 relief in Michigan communities.

In addition to funding recruitment and retention efforts among the healthcare industry and funding for skilled nursing facilities, the $414 million for healthcare providers includes:

• $70 million for licensed adult foster care facilities, homes for the aged and facilities that care for the elderly or adults with developmental disabilities to offset pandemic-associated expense increases;
• $29 million to fund structural and operational improvements to help reduce the spread of infectious disease; and
• $10 million to reimburse nursing facilities for half the cost of converting semi-private resident rooms into private rooms. Facilities would have to provide the remaining funds.

The Republican-sponsored plan, which passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support, would provide approximately $300 million for healthcare employee recruitment and retention and $114 million in additional support for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, according to state Rep. Julie Calley (R), a co-sponsor.

Health Care Association of Michigan/Michigan Center for Assisted Living President/CEO Melissa Samuel told the McKnight’s Business Daily that the bill allocates $70 million to establish a grant program of $700/bed for adult foster care facilities, homes for the aged (both licensed and exempt) and nonlicensed residential settings for older adults and individuals with disabilities to cover COVID-19 pandemic costs.

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