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Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 fell for the second straight day in Connecticut, prompting cautious optimism from Gov. Ned Lamont even as the state recorded more than 400 new cases, and deaths climbed to more than 1,100 on Sunday.
"For the second straight day, the number of people hospitalized in Connecticut due to complications caused by COVID-19 has slightly decreased, another step in the right direction and another sign that the efforts we've been taking as a community are having an impact on slowing the outbreak," the governor said in his daily news release.
The state reported 412 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 17,962. There were 41 new deaths attributed to the disease, bringing the death toll to 1,127. The number of people hospitalized after catching the virus fell by 37, and now sits at 1,901.
The governor's office noted those figures include data from days or weeks ago that had been added recently, and Lamont insisted the crisis is far from over.
Nursing Homes in Connecticu... by Helen Bennett on Scribd
"Whether this continues is dependent upon the actions each of us takes over the next several days and weeks," Lamont said. "This isn't over — we lost another 41 Connecticut residents, and we mourn for their lives. Together, we can have an impact on flattening the curve, but if people tell you the pandemic has ended — they are wrong."
More Medicaid funding for nursing homes
A day after his office said the state will increase outreach to nursing homes amid the pandemic, Lamont announced Sunday his administration will bump up Medicaid payments to all of the more than 200 nursing homes in the state.
The plan would give homes an additional 5 percent on Medicaid payments, on top of the 10 percent boost Lamont already announced.
Together, the 15 percent hike in payments are expected to push $65 million to all of the 215 nursing homes in the state.
The governor's office said the extra funds are intended to cover employee wages and bonuses, including overtime, pay for protective equipment for workers, cleaning supplies and the costs associated with screening visitors for infection.
"Connecticut's nursing home operators and their employees provide an incredible service to the people of our state, including the 22,000 residents receive direct care in nursing homes on a daily basis," Lamont said in the release.
The Democratic governor said the homes and their employees have his "profound gratitude," during the "unprecedented global pandemic."
Statewide, at least 1,713 nursing home residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and 375 residents' deaths have been attributed to the virus, data released by the governor's office on Thursday shows.
Lamont's office said the 10 percent increase in Medicaid payouts will be retroactive to March 1, winding back a month earlier than he previously said. The 10 percent increase was originally supposed to take effect April 1. Lamont said the 5 percent boost will be effective as of April 1.
Nursing homes not selected as COVID-only sites, but have residents who test positive for the illness will be reimbursed $400 per day per resident, according to the governor's office. That will apply for a maximum of 30 days.
COVID-designated homes, meanwhile, will receive $600 per day, and will receive help with any "startup costs," the governor's office said.
Nursing home visits
Staff with the Department of Public Health Sunday began making site visits to each nursing home in the state, a process that should take around seven to 10 days.
On Saturday, a spokesman for Lamont's office said those visits are not inspections, but are a way to "be helpful" to the nursing homes.
A survey form from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for those visits shows DPH personnel will ask questions about each facility's infection control program.
That includes checking to see if a nursing home has signs advising visitors not to enter under most circumstances. Since mid-March, family members have been banned from nursing homes, typically unless their loved one is in end-of-life care.
The survey also makes it clear that federal regulators are aware of mask and other protective equipment shortages.
"State and federal surveyors should not cite facilities for not having certain supplies (e.g., PPE such as gowns, N95 respirators, surgical masks) if they are having difficulty obtaining these supplies for reasons outside of their control," the survey form says. But nursing homes should make attempts to get new equipment as soon as possible.
Public health officials will also examine whether the nursing home officials know how many patients have gotten sick with COVID-19, if the staff knows how the disease is transmitted, and how information about a patient's diagnosis is shared with other health care providers.
Economic advisors
Separately on Sunday, the governor's office announced the names of appointees from the rest of the states that have formed a coalition to slowly reopen economies together after May 20.
Connecticut announced its three appointees nearly a week ago. They include the former CEO of PepsiCo, Lamont's chief of staff and the chairman of the epidemiology department at Yale School of Medicine.
The advisors among the remaining states come from a broad swath of private business backgrounds, health care and government, and include Jeh Johnson, the former Homeland Security secretary under President Barack Obama.
On Saturday, governors of Connecticut, along with New York and New Jersey, said they would allow marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers to open so long as they maintain social distancing guidelines. The plan does not allow people in the three states to charter or rent boats.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the plan would help prevent boaters in the three coastal states from "state shopping.
Yale New Haven Hospital Guilford Blood Draw
Source: https://www.nhregister.com/local/article/Lamont-boosts-medicaid-payments-at-CT-nursing-15211274.php?src=nhrhpbrk
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