New information about COVID-19 (coronavirus) is coming out from federal agencies and press outlets frequently. Lutheran Services in America will post resources and news updates to this page to provide guidance on what you can do to prevent the spread of this viral disease.
Federal Funding Opportunities, New Requirements, and Updated Regulations
Click here to get our most current information on funding opportunities, updated as new information is available.
Get the Latest News
- Sign up for the Washington Post’s coronavirus news alerts for real-time updates
- Follow the CDC on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates
- Listen to transcripts and recordings of update calls from CMS
Statements, Messages and Resources from Lutheran Services in America
- Lutheran Services in America letter to Congress on our priorities for the 4th coronavirus legislative relief package (April 8, 2020)
- See latest CEO Update for members
- Lutheran Services in America joined other national nonprofits to urge lawmakers to extend the expiration date for the Paycheck Protection Program. (February 26, 2021)
- Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) commits to expanding PPP to nonprofits with 500+ employees, covering 100% of unemployment insurance costs (January 26, 2021)
- Lutheran Services in America joined other national nonprofits to ask the new Administration and Congressional leadership to include in forthcoming COVID legislation urgently needed relief for nonprofit organizations. (January 22, 2021)
- Lutheran Services in America joined over 40 other national nonprofits in writing to President-Elect Biden, urging his incoming administration to address both the vital services provided by nonprofits and the need for targeted relief as soon as possible. (November 9, 2020)
- Joint letter from Lutheran Services in America's Charlotte Haberaecker and other nonprofit leaders calling for COVID-19 relief deal to avert further job losses and economic damage (September 24, 2020)
- Letter from Lutheran Services in America to Senators urging them to adequately address nonprofit health and human service provider needs in draft of HEALS Act (July 28, 2020)
- Lutheran Services in America joined nine other faith-based organizations to sign onto a LeadingAge letter asking lawmakers to deliver COVID relief for vulnerable older adults and their caregivers (July 28, 2020)
- Lutheran Services in America along with 30 of our members joined with the broader charitable nonprofit community nationally and at the state and local level to ask Congress to include a “Nonprofit Track” in the next COVID-19 relief bill to ensure that charitable nonprofits are supported in their service on the front lines of responding to the crisis. (July 13, 2020)
- Joint letter to Congressional leadership on testing for underserved communities (June 29, 2020)
- Recording of CLA webinar on Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness from Lutheran Services in America's Strength and Service Series (July 1, 2020)
- CLA presentation on Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness from Lutheran Services in America's Strength and Service Series (July 1, 2020)
- Joint letter on helping charities impacted by COVID-19 by supporting forgiveable loans for mid-size nonprofits
- Comments to the Federal Reserve Board on the proposal to include nonprofits as eligible participants in the Main Street Lending Program urging the Fed to make necessary changes to the proposal, including making loans forgivable for nonprofits. (June 19, 2020)
- Joint letter requesting the Trump Administration address critical administrative and regulatory issues and to provide guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (June 17, 2020)
- Letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on MSLP expansion for nonprofits (June 10, 2020)
- Letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on MSLP expansion for nonprofits (June 10, 2020)
- Statement for the Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled "Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19: The CARES Act and the Role of Unemployment Insurance During the Pandemic," urging the Committee to help implement an increase in the federal unemployment insurance reimbursement for self-funded nonprofits to 100% of costs. (June 9, 2020)
- Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities letter to Senate leadership (June 5, 2020)
- Lutheran Services in America joined with 12 other national nonprofit organizations to send a letter to Senators Bennet and Young expressing concerns that the RESTART Act loan program terms disadvantage nonprofits in comparison to for-profit entities (June 1, 2020)
- Lutheran Services in America comments to Small Business Administration on "interim final rule" on the Paycheck Protection Program (May 15, 2020)
- Communication to the Federal Reserve Board from Lutheran Services in America on the "Main Street Lending" facility and nonprofit access (May 1, 2020)
- Lutheran Services in America letter to the President and select federal agencies asking for key actions and supports for frontline nonprofits (April 27, 2020)
- Statement from Lutheran Services in America in response to Senate passage of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (April 21, 2020)
- LTSS workforce letters: Recommendations for the President and Congressional leaders to support long-term services and supports workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 17)
- Lutheran Services in America joined with the broader charitable nonprofit community to ask Congress to include a “Nonprofit Track” in the next COVID-19 relief bill to ensure that charitable nonprofits are supported in their service on the front lines of responding to the crisis. (April 8, 2020)
- Key elements of the CARES Act
- Statement on Senate's Passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
Important Resources
Advocacy & Legislative Resources
- Summary of the draft "American Rescue Plan" being considered in Congress under "budget reconciliation" (February 22, 2021)
- On December 21, 2020, another COVID-19 relief bill was enacted with provisions that impact our member network. Click here to learn more.
- Letter to lawmakers from Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Meadows urging Congress to pass a bill granting access to the remaining PPP funds (October 12, 2020)
- Lutheran Services in America infographic on our COVID-19 key priorities (July 20, 2020)
- House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the COVID-19 nursing home crisis (via remote video conferencing) (June 25, 2020)
- Letter from Senators Dianne Feinstein and Mike Braun to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on improvements to Main Street lending (June 24, 2020)
- Senators Introduce Legislation to Help Families, Youth, and Children Faced with Homelessness Amid COVID-19 Pandemic (June 10, 2020)
- Fact sheet on Sen. Bob Casey's Pandemic Responder Service Award Act (S. 3763), which Lutheran Services in America has endorsed and which would reward front-line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with funding for loan forgiveness, higher education or personal savings.
- Overview fact sheet on the House HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) (May 18, 2020)
- Fact sheet: The HEROES Act Shields Borrowers from Debt Collectors and Provides Reasonable Forbearance for Missed Payments
- Fact sheet: The Heroes Act Supports Small Businesses, Non-Profits And Public Universities
- Summary: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other small business program reforms
- Press release on WORK NOW Act: Klobuchar, Schatz, Wyden, Brown Introduce Legislation to Help Nonprofits Hire Workers During Pandemic (May 15, 2020)
- Rep. Stephanie Murphy's fact sheet on the JOBS Credit Act of 2020 (pending bipartisan legislation)
- Sens. James Lankford and Angus King's letter to Senate leadership on provisions for nonprofits in relief package
- Rep. Chris Smith's Letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on relief for nonprofits
- COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act: Warren, Schakowsky to Introduce Legislation to Publicly Manufacture Personal Protective Equipment, Prescription Drugs, Other Medical Supplies
- Press release: Moulton, Fitzpatrick, 142 Other Members of Congress and Nation’s Leading Nonprofits urge House Leadership to Support Relief for America’s Nonprofits
CMS Guidance & Fact Sheets
- CMS Nursing Home Resource Center
- Fact Sheet: Medicaid and CHIP T-MSIS Analytic Files Data Release (November 18, 2020)
- Holiday leave recommendations for nursing homes (November 18, 2020)
- Announcements and documents for Medicare Advantage rates and statistics
- Announcement on Medicare Advantage and Part D advance notice, part II (October 30, 2020)
- Announcement on the fourth COVID-19 interim final rule with comment period
- Announcement of expanded list of telehealth services for which Medicare-Fee-For-Service will pay and additional support to state Medicaid and CHIP agencies (October 14, 2020)
- Update to COVID-19 testing methodology for nursing homes (September 29, 2020)
- Recorded discussion on telehealth policy changes made by CMS (September 28, 2020)
- Announcment of New Federal Funding for 33 States to Support Transitioning Individuals from Nursing Homes to the Community (September 23, 2020)
- Request for Feedback on Performance of Medicaid Funded Home and Community-Based Services (September 18, 2020)
- New Roadmap for States to Accelerate Adoption of Value-Based Care to Improve Quality of Care for Medicaid Beneficiaries (September 15, 2020)
- Coverage and Payment for COVID-19 Testing in Nursing Facilities Flow Chart
- Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements and Revised COVID-19 Focused Survey Tool (August 26, 2020)
- Informational bulletin on Medicaid reimbursement strategies to prevent spread of COVID-19 in nursing facilities (August 24, 2020)
- Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes (August 2020)
- Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results Available on Nursing Home Compare (June 4)
- Trump Administration Unveils Enhanced Enforcement Actions Based on Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspection Results (June 1)
- Seema Verma letter to nursing home facility management and staff
- Telehealth Video: Medicare Coverage and Payment of Virtual Services
- Emergency declaration blanket waivers
- CMS-Approved State 1135 Medicaid Waivers
- Guidance on Requirements for Notification of Confirmed and Suspected COVID-19 Cases Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes (May 6)
- Administration issued another round of sweeping regulatory waivers and rule changes to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and provide flexibility to the healthcare system as America reopens (April 30)
- Announcement on a new independent commission that will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the COVID-19 pandemic (April 30)
- CMS has announced new guidance for re-opening medical facilities for non-emergent, non-COVID 19 healthcare.
- CMS has temporarily suspended a number of rules so that hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities including SNFs and homehealth agencies can boost their frontline medical staffs and more quickly respond to changing needs during the pandemic.
- CMS Guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Long-Term Care Facility (LTC) Transfer Scenarios
- Fact Sheet on the CMS Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program for Providers and Suppliers During Covid-19 Emergency (April 8, 2020)
- CMS-issued new guidance for long-term care facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (April 3, 2020)
- Medicaid.gov Coronavirus update page (April 3, 2020)
- CMS Updated Guidance on Rural Health Care and Medicaid Telehealth Flexibilities; and Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telehealth
- CMS toolkit for telehealth and telemedicine for Long Term Care Nursing Home Facilities (March 27, 2020)
- CMS emergency guidance and news updates (updated periodically)
- CMS FAQs on Essential Health Benefit coverage and the coronavirus (March 12, 2020)
Business Continuity & Workforce
- Results of the Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 National Survey 2020
- FEMA Exercise Starter Kit for Workshop on Reconstituting Operations
- 4/27 guidance from U.S. Labor Department (UIPL 18-20) instructing states to bill certain tax-exempt employers immediately for 100% of costs of unemployment benefits paid to employees laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 Workforce Virtual Toolkit: Resources for Healthcare Decision-Makers Responding to COVID-19 Workforce Concerns
- Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Department of Labor guidance on new paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- What the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Means to Nonprofits
- Summary of Unemployment Insurance Provisions in legislation to address the pandemic
Other Federal Agency Resources
- CDC COVID-19 print resources
- CDC guidance on small and large gatherings (Feb. 10, 2021)
- CDC community-based organizations COVID-19 vaccine toolkit (Feb. 9, 2021)
- CDC COVID-19 one-stop shop toolkits (Feb. 3, 2021)
- HRSA Regional Telehealth Resource Center Program grant opportunity (deadline: Jan. 21, 2021)
- HHS announcement on distribution of incentive payments to nursing homes for curbing COVID-19 deaths and infections (October 28, 2020)
- DOD and HHS launch Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program to provide and administer COVID-19 vaccines (when available) to residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF) nationwide with no out-of-pocket costs. Online portal/survey closes October 29
- CDC Information on Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities
- CDC Frequently Asked Questions about the Coronavirus
- DOD Operation Warp Speed (OWS)
- OCR Issues Guidance on Civil Rights Protections Prohibiting Race, Color, and National Origin Discrimination During COVID-19 (July 20, 2020)
- Trump Administration Announces Initiative for More and Faster COVID-19 Testing in Nursing Homes (July 14, 2020)
- GAO - COVID-19: Opportunities to Improve Federal Response and Recovery Efforts (June 25, 2020)
- New HHS Laboratory Data Reporting Guidance for COVID-19 Testing
- CDC updated guidance for individuals with disabilities living in group homes
- Community and faith-based organizations
- HHS funding for SNFs via CARES Act's Provider Relief Loan
- FHA Q&As for Office of Multifamily Housing Stakeholders
- Recommended Preventative Practices and FAQs for Faith-based and Community Leaders from HHS
- Administration for Community Living COVID-19 resource page (April 7, 2020)
- HRSA FAQs for current grantees during the pandemic (April 3, 2020)
- HUD FAQs for Multi-family Housing (April 3, 2020)
- State options for paying Medicaid providers that use telehealth technology to deliver services. (March 19, 2020)
Contact Sarah Dobson, Lutheran Services in America’s Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, at 202-499-5832 for more information.