RI Health Care Assoc: CVS Rapid Tests & $1K/wk Hazard Pay

The Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA), the association representing 64 of RI’s homes, today called upon the State of Rhode Island to provide an additional $1,000 per week to every staff member working in nursing homes during the COVID-19 crisis. Federal funds could be used to fund such an effort.

“Our staff are crucial workers on the frontlines, and they deserve additional pay during this unprecedented time,” RIHCA President and CEO Scott Fraser said. “Nursing home workers are on the job every day, 24 hours a day seven days a week. We believe an additional $1,000 payment is the least our state can do to assist workers who are stepping up each day to care for our frail elderly residents.”

Nursing homes employ 10,000 people in the state of Rhode Island from maintenance and administrative staff and dietary aides to nurses and CNAs. These workers care for more than 22,000 residents each year.

“Every person who works in a nursing home is critical to protecting the health and safety of our residents,” Fraser said.

Rapid Response Testing Needed in Nursing Homes

RIHCA also urged Governor Raimondo and the Department of Health to make the CVS rapid response tests available to nursing homes. Presently, residents and workers who are tested must wait days for results. A rapid response test in 30 minutes would help curb the spread of the virus as this knowledge would help homes immediately isolate residents and workers.

Rapid response testing would also allow nursing homes to distinguish immediately upon entry whether a staff member has COVID-19 or simply seasonal allergies. A negative result would allow staff members to continue to do their jobs. We request nursing homes get access to those tests.

“Rapid response testing is a critical need in the nursing home population both for our residents and our staff,” Fraser said. “The CVS rapid response test is an amazing tool that could save lives in nursing homes.”