The Trump administration is giving out $523 million in second round performance payments to over 9,000 aged care homes that successfully reduced COVID-19 infections and deaths between September and October.
The announcement was made on 7 December through the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar said it was important to incentivise nursing homes that had shown success in following infection control protocols.
Facilities with a mortality rate lower than the communities they serve are the most likely to receive the performance payment.
In August, HHS announced plans to distribute $5 billion in additional Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments to nursing homes.
A little under a third of that money, $2 billion, will be dedicated to the incentive-based program.
HHS found that between September and October, of the 13,251 eligible nursing homes, 9,248, or 69%, met the incentive program's infection control criteria.
This new round of incentive payments will boost the $15 billion already distributed to nursing homes in both Targeted and General Distribution PRF funding.
Recipients may use this funding to acquire additional personal protective equipment or other efforts to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The US has recorded around 100,000 deaths among aged care residents and staff.
