Healthcare Collections: House Bill 45, COVID-19, and More!
Shareholder and Healthcare Collections Group chair Sara Costanzo and attorneys Jill Keck and Matt Pomy recently exhibited at the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA)’s 2023 Convention & Expo. This event gave attendees the opportunity to participate in educational sessions and fun networking events with fellow professionals. Sara also presented on the topic of identifying non-paying accounts before charge-off, in an educational session.
Now, these professionals are sharing their top takeaways from the event!
Post-COVID-19: What does that mean to the healthcare industry?
Many providers are now asking how many incidences of a known communicable disease constitute an “outbreak” after the COVID-19 protocol, requiring reporting and screening of visitors with testing.
Appropriations House Bill 45 (HB 45) has been extended
Governor Mike DeWine recently signed HB 45, a significant appropriations bill that included relief funding for several types of healthcare providers. The bill included $345 million for skilled nursing facilities and $40 million for assisted living facilities, with additional funding for other providers, including Medicaid waiver and hospice providers.
Hiring and retention: Where are the workers?
Many facilities are implementing “retention bonuses” beyond what we’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic with hiring bonuses. They have found that staff were coming, staying 12-14 months to earn the hiring bonus, and leaving to another facility, with some more seasoned staff leaving because they were not being recognized for staying overall. Bonuses related to staying are staggered over time, up to five years.
Non-payment – Who/What is the obstacle?
Misunderstanding of what is covered by insurance/Medicare and how to qualify for Medicaid:
- Resident losing competency and not having anyone as a power of attorney (POA) to assist in the process
- Third-party theft/misappropriation
Our team is constantly monitoring these changes. If you have additional questions about our healthcare collections solutions, connect with Sara, Jill, and/or Matt at any time.
These blogs are not a solicitation for business, and they are not intended to constitute legal advice on specific matters, create an attorney-client relationship or be legally binding in any way.
