Member News

January 5, 2021

American Seniors Housing Association President David Schless anticipated a “chaotic and uneven” vaccination process for staff members and residents. “ASHA has been very focused on working with both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and with the state governors to ensure that all senior living staff and residents receive the vaccine as it becomes available on a prioritized basis — including independent living,” he said. Read full story here.

December 23, 2020

A $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill is on its way to the president’s desk after being passed by both houses of Congress by late Monday. Trade associations representing senior living operators, however, say they are disappointed in its provisions. The measure adds $3 billion to the Provider Relief Fund, to be distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services. American Seniors Housing Association President David Schless said “there is much to disappoint” related to the bill and senior living. “In addition to the package not including the liability protection the industry desperately needs, the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) grew by only $3 billion, a shocking decline from earlier reports of an additional $35 billion,” he said. Schless also called for additional funding, noting that the $24.5 billion in Phase 3 funds currently being disbursed to providers by HHS is intended to apply to lost revenue and increased expenses from the first and second quarters. “With the third and fourth quarters expecting to reflect significant financial stress in the industry, significantly more relief is needed,” he said. “The Provider Relief Fund is one of the few sources of financial relief available to the industry, and to not replenish these badly needed funds is seriously flawed and fails to recognize the significant work of the senior living industry to keep seniors and staff safe during the past 11 months.” Schless said he was pleased, however, that the COVID relief bill directs PRF recipients to calculate lost revenues using the Frequently Asked Questions guidance released by HHS in June. “This preferred guidance allows the use of budgeted revenue for comparison to actual as long as the budget had been established and approved prior to March 27, 2020,” he said. And long-term care providers can be pleased that the bill permanently extends the 7.5% adjusted gross income threshold for medical expense deductibility, Schless said. “This is an issue that ASHA has championed for several years,” he said. “It was at risk of increasing to 10%, which would essentially be a tax increase for seniors who can use this deduction to help defray the costs of senior living and long-term care insurance premiums among other eligible expenses.” Full story.

December 17, 2020

ASHA President David Schless said, the “full-court press advocacy efforts” in pursuit of funding is finally showing positive results. “These funds could not have come at a better time, as the virus continues to surge and our operators must redouble their efforts to protect their residents and staff,” Schless said. “The vaccine making its way to our communities in the next few months is encouraging, but the industry’s financial needs will continue to grow.” Full story. 

December 17, 2020

HHS received approximately 75,000 Phase 3 applicants; the percentage of those applicants that are assisted living providers is unknown, ASHA President David Schless told Senior Housing News. 

“We have asked on several occasions. Our understanding is that the 88% will be derived directly from each providers Phase 3 application (through the end of the second quarter 2020),” Schless said. Full story.  

December 16, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerable health status of older adults, but it also revealed the “vital role” that senior living communities play in the larger care continuum, according to a Plante Moran research report. The investigation, done in partnership with the American Seniors Housing Association, states that once the senior living industry emerges from the pandemic, assisted living providers will have a choice: go back to the status quo, which will see growing competition, increasing costs and lower occupancy, or embrace an expanded role in the healthcare delivery system. Click here for full story.

December 10, 2020

The framework for a bipartisan $908 billion COVID-19 relief package, released Dec. 9, includes measures directed at addressing the struggles of assisted living and other long-term care operators.

ASHA President David Schless echoed that the senior living industry needs help now, adding that ASHA also is calling for temporary and limited liability protections for the industry “given the likelihood of legal challenges ahead that will create additional, unnecessary and unfair financial strain on this industry.” Read more.

December 2, 2020

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel is recommending that workers and residents of long-term care facilities, such as assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities, should be among the first people to receive a Covid-19 vaccine when it’s available. ASHA President David Schless said the organization supports the prioritization strategy, and appreciates the complexity associated with doing so. “We are encouraged that the committee recognizes the front-line position our industry’s staff members have served during this pandemic and the disproportionate impact of this virus on seniors in our communities,” Schless said in a statement. “However, we must continue to be vigilant to ensure that all senior living communities have prioritized access to the vaccine as supplies become available.” Read more.

December 1, 2020

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, the American Seniors Housing Association, Argentum and LeadingAge released a joint statement emphasizing the need to keep long-term care residents and staff on the top of the COVID-19 vaccine priority list. Click here for more.

November 12, 2020

ASHA President David Schless writes in a letter to Congress, “While we are encouraged by the news of a vaccine on the horizon, until it is widely available to our residents and staff, we must continue to take all necessary measures to protect our communities. This public health crisis demands that federal resources be allocated to the senior living industry to ensure our ongoing ability to serve this vulnerable population.” Read more. 

November 10, 2020

Joe Biden “has made COVID-19 and caregiving a national priority and has announced his intention to launch a COVID-19 Task Force that will create an ‘action blueprint’ to begin implementation Jan 20.” Full story