The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making $25.5 billion in new relief funding available to healthcare providers. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of HHS, administers the provider relief programs on behalf of HHS. HRSA has created a single application portal to make the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Rural payments and Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments. The deadline to file for these funds is October 26, 2021, by 11:59 PM. Since the application process requires several validation checks, it is best to start the process now.
Who Is Eligible?
HHS has expanded the types of healthcare providers that are eligible for the PRF and ARP Rural payments. Providers that have not received payments in the past may now be eligible.
Eligibility for PRF payments includes:
- Providers or suppliers who bill Medicare fee-for-service (Parts A, B, and C), Medicaid (fee-for-service or managed care) and/or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Dental service providers
- State-licensed or certified assisted living facilities
- Behavioral health providers
- And others
Eligibility for ARP Rural payments includes:
- Providers or suppliers who bill Medicare (Parts A, B, and C), Medicaid (fee-for-service or managed care), and/or CHIP, and operate in or serve patients in a rural area, including:
- Rural health clinics and critical access hospitals
- In-home health, hospice, or long-term services
- And others
How Are Payments Determined?
PRF base payments are determined by changes in operating revenues and expenses from July 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021. Smaller providers will be reimbursed for a higher percentage of changes in operating revenues and expenses. There will also be bonus payments based on the amount and type of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP services provided.
ARP Rural payments are based on the amount and type of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP services provided to rural patients from January 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020.
It is worth noting that providers can receive funding from both PRF and ARP Rural payments, which can be used for changes in operating revenues and expenses dating back to January 1, 2020.
Here is the link to access the Application.
Here is the link to access the Instructions.
Bend-Fab’s standing steal metal roofing will give you the peace of mind that your roof is destined to last without the need for constant upkeep. Bend-Fab custom rolls its standing seam panels on-site and offers custom metal bending utilizing its 21-foot computerized metal break.
At Bend-Fab, they’ve installed standing seam metal roofing on healthcare offices, churches, government buildings, office buildings, restaurants, stores, and hotels, as well as residential homes throughout the Susquehanna Valley. No project is too small for their team.
Visit Bend-Fab’s website at www.bend-fab.com for more information. They can be found in Milton at 2733 State Route 45.
Bend-Fab joins 415 members of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce to receive benefits and support the Chamber’s efforts to enhance the region.
Whether you are planning a large-scale corporate building front or a university entrance way, Reliable Glass offers high-end performance solutions and a level of personal service that’s second to none.
Reliable Glass’ team of experts have experience designing and installing glass and aluminum solutions across a variety of industries including: Education, Food Service, Government, Healthcare, Hospitality, Residential, and Retail.
Reliable glass offers cracked or broken glass repairs, commercial glass, residential glass, and bullet-proof glass windows and doors. Reliable Glass also offers custom installations that can give your business the attention it deserves.
For more than 20 years, general contractors and custom homebuilders have looked to Reliable Glass for professional glass & aluminum solutions.
Visit Reliable Glass’ website at www.reliableglassco.com for more information. They can be found in Elysburg at 938 Penn Avenue.
T-Ross Brothers Construction, Inc. has been the leader in the construction industry for the past 60 years. At T-Ross Brothers Construction, Inc. Its team is committed to reaching beyond construction; their passion brings dreams to life with quality craftsmanship! They build relationships built on honesty and integrity, they understand their clients and what they are trying to accomplish and promote innovative solutions that exceed the needs and requirements of the clients.
T-Ross Brothers Construction, Inc. has been providing innovative general contractor services, commercial construction, industrial construction, steel building, religious facilities, and crane services.
Today, T-Ross Brothers Construction, Inc. is owned by brothers, Todd G. and Tom E. Ross. In 1996, the brothers purchased the 38-year-old business from their father, Thomas H. Ross, after working their way up through the construction business. The brothers began with sweeping floors and sorting nails from the time they were old enough to hold a broom.
From childhood, they were taught by their father the proper use and installation of materials. Having worked through each phase of the construction business, the Ross Brothers have the knowledge and expertise to propose the most suitable solutions to any construction challenge.
Visit T-Ross Brothers Construction’s website at www.trossbrothers.com for more information.
T- ross joins 415 members of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce to receive benefits and support the Chamber’s efforts to enhance the region.
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B.I.D.A. Reforms Scholarship Program for Underemployed and Unemployed
Berwick Industrial Development Association (B.I.D.A.), a leader in economic development focusing on industrial development and manufacturing, is excited to pilot a program that will provide property owners in Columbia and Southern Luzerne Counties an opportunity to learn of economic development initiatives.
B.I.D.A. launched a scholarship program for high school graduates from the Berwick Area School District (which included students attending Columbia-Montour Vocational Technical School) that were to attend post-secondary or higher education institutions to pursue their education in the vocational trades.
Although the program has been successful with students applying for and being awarded to two students each year, B.I.D.A. has re-examined the present state of the workforce in our area, and with having a shortage of skilled labor in the region, the board of directors has voted to offer the scholarship to unemployed and underemployed individuals in the Berwick Area School District geographic area.
This shift would allow residents to apply for the $1,000 that could essentially pay for an entire program at the Columbia Montour Vocational Technical School’s adult education. There is an application process, and it will still run annually as it does for the high school applicant. In the Spring, residents can request a scholarship application that also provides instruction on what needs to be included.
Amy Shortlidge, Marketing Director for B.I.D.A. stated, “This is an opportunity for people to acquire employment quicker, with courses and training programs that can take six to twelve weeks to complete, as opposed to waiting for students to graduate from a two or four-year degree program.”
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Announces November Programs
Located on 2 W. 7th Street, the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum officially announced it’s full slate schedule for its programs. The jam-packed month includes unique classes, clubs, music and infant/toddler programs. you can view all of the programs HERE.
Community Giving Foundation is administering the Innovation Grant in partnership with the Columbia County Commissioners. This grant will provide funding to a qualified nonprofit or government entity for the implementation of an emerging idea and initiative that can substantially impact or provide measurable progress toward the betterment of our community. The Innovation Grant is a vehicle to enable continued growth and strengthening of Columbia County.
The Columbia County Commissioners ARP Nonprofit Innovation Grant will provide one grant of up to $100,000 to one organization. Interested applicants can review the guidelines and submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) online until November 15, 2021, by 11:45 p.m. The LOI is limited to a two-page document introducing your organization, project description, service area, and requested budget summary.
If the LOI is approved, an application will be made available. Those invited to submit a full application will be notified on December 1, 2021. Completed applications with supporting documents will be due by December 30, 2021, at 11:45 p.m. Full application submissions will also require an in-person presentation with the grant committee on January 11 or 12, 2022. Final grant decisions will be announced January 21, 2022.
Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit and government organizations are eligible to apply, and the requested funding must be invested within Columbia County. Individuals are not eligible to apply. To discuss your organization’s eligibility, please contact the Foundation.
Grant applications must be completed and submitted through a web-based program. Interested applicants can access the guidelines and application by visiting csgiving.org/grants.
Letters of Interest must be submitted online by 11:45 pm on November 15, 2021.
Just the thought of an approaching open enrollment period can cause stress for employers and their workers. But with proper planning and a well-developed strategy, open enrollments can be organized, effective and a positive experience for all involved.
Development of a detailed timeline well in advance of the start of open enrollment season is a great first step. The employer and their benefit consultant can analyze the company’s specific objectives, style and demographics to develop a customized approach. Included in this stage should be the scheduling of webinars, benefit fairs, seminars and opportunities, as applicable. Likewise, the framework of an employee communication campaign can be developed, leaving specific details (like plan data, contribution schedules, etc.) to be inserted at a later time.
As soon as renewals are made available by the carrier(s), plans and contribution schedules can be selected by the employer and a communication piece should be distributed to all employees outlining the planned process, any critical information and any important dates and deadlines.
Benefit plan and contribution information should be presented to employees in a manner that encourages employees to become engaged in the process. The communication material should present the range of benefit details in a simple, understandable and even exciting, if possible, manner…customized as much as possible to the profile of employees in each organization.
Technology should be used whenever possible. Utilization of emails, webinars and online open enrollment tools all enhance the experience for today’s technology-oriented workforce and help to streamline the entire process.
Once open enrollment ends and everything settles down, the process can be reviewed and employee feedback solicited in order to better understand the components that worked well and those that didn’t. In this way, the experience can be further perfected for the following year’s open enrollment season.
The Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at cmcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Glynis Roberts at (800) 377-3539.
With the challenges of hiring and retaining quality employees, employers have been increasingly benchmarking their wage rates to ensure they are competitive. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry provides labor market information by county and wage rate information by Metropolitan Statistical Area. Links to those resources are available on the Facts & Figures page of the Chamber’s website.
The wage rate information provided by L&I is from 2020. Advance Central PA, the regional workforce board, accesses a database that pulls from a variety of sources, including current job postings. The contact for that most up-to-date information is William Berry, Research Analyst, at 570-568-6868 or wberry@advancecentralpa.org.
Adapted from the PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier provided updates regarding the agency’s challenges in paying out unemployment compensation benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic; their efforts to fight fraudulent UC claims that have skyrocketed since the pandemic began; new technology infrastructure and more at a hearing last week with the House Labor and Industry Committee.
The massive number of pandemic-related jobless claims last year overwhelmed the UC system and led to a backlog of thousands of Pennsylvanians waiting months for payments and unable to reach anyone from the department for assistance. The department reported that long-awaited updates to the system were completed this year which brought the backlog from around 320,000 to 91,826 pending determinations; and more than 525,000 people receiving more than $3 billion in benefits since June.
As the department tackled pandemic-related backlogs, a related challenge began to emerge and wreak havoc on the UC system – a significant uptick in UC fraud. L&I has struggled to root out fraudulent claims, and although the UC system upgrades have been generally lauded, it is suspected the transition likely opened a window of opportunity for fraudsters. In September, L&I representatives told a group of chambers that the ID.me verification system had reduced fraudulent claims dramatically. However, members of The Columbia Montour Chamber are still reporting fraudulent claims, including from employees that have never received benefits. The Chamber has provided that feedback to L&I but has not received a response.
L&I representatives were questioned if they believe a former employee should be eligible for UC if they quit because of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. “It’s very much on a case-by-case basis,” Deputy Secretary for Unemployment Compensation Susan Dickinson said. “If we determine that the person quit, then the burden of proof is on that person to show that they had a good reason to quit. If the case is discharge, then the burden of proof is on the employer to show that the discharge was necessary,” Dickinson added.
From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
In September, President Biden issued executive orders (EOs)—a summary of which can be found here regarding new policies to combat the COVID virus.
On Tuesday, October 12th, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), which will require employers with at least 100 employees to ensure their employees are vaccinated or that they submit a negative COVID test on a weekly basis.
The specifics of the ETS or how long it’s expected to remain at OIRA have not been released, but it could take effect within a week.
The ETS will take effect once published in the Federal Register—at which point it will also be open for comments. Under the OSH Act, the ETS will remain in place for six months. After the six months, OSHA can either replace it with a permanent standard that reflects the comments or discontinue the standard altogether. At this time, we expect that the ETS will require employers to provide some paid time off for employees to get vaccinated or to recover from getting vaccinated—though the specificities are unknown.
As more information becomes available on the ETS, this post will be updated.