The Wisconsin Health Care Association and the Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living (WHCA/WiCAL) thanked Gov. Tony Evers and his Administration for their commitment to cover the costs for a statewide COVID-19 skilled nursing facility staff testing initiative through the end of 2020, as was reported to providers by Department of Health Services (DHS) officials on Thursday.
“Wisconsin’s skilled nursing facilities are on the frontlines of providing care to our state’s frail older adults during the COVID-19 crisis, and deserve to have the costs of testing covered in these remarkably challenging times,” said John Vander Meer, President & CEO of WHCA/WiCAL. “WHCA/WiCAL thanks the Evers Administration for continuing funding for the statewide testing initiative for skilled nursing providers.”
While the statewide testing initiative covers the cost for skilled nursing providers through the end of 2020, WHCA/WiCAL continues to advocate the need to include assisted living centers in the statewide testing initiative.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Gov. Evers and his Administration to ensure the safety of the residents and staff in long-term care facilities across the state,” Vander Meer said.
This announcement follows weeks of advocacy by WHCA/WiCAL to expand the statewide testing initiative. WHCA/WiCAL looks forward to working with DHS officials to ramp up the state’s testing capacity, and target testing in areas of the greatest need.