Here’s today’s update:

• ReBuild NC has just announced a new application period for the Homeowner Recovery Program to help residents repair and reconstruct homes damaged by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.  This is funded through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding approved by Congress three years ago.  Those interested in applying should visit ReBuild.NC.Gov.  More information is also available by calling 833-ASK-RBNC.
  
  
  
• Brunswick County has announced that 17 residents and 7 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at Universal Health Care of Brunswick in Bolivia.  Testing of all employees and residents were completed yesterday following news that an employee and a resident had tested positive last week.  All are reported to be doing well at this time.  Residents that have tested positive are isolated in rooms in a dedicated part of the building, attended to by dedicated staff who work only in that section.  Employees that have tested positive are isolating at home.  For more information, visit Brunswick County’s website here.
  
  
• The CDC has released a suggested checklist for helping communities of faith to help keep their staffs and congregants safe from contracting COVID-19.  The guidance comes after last month’s decision by President Trump to deem churches essential.
  
  
• The IRS has outlined a few changes to health care spending rules enacted by the CARES Act, particularly useful to individuals seeking at-home care and services due to the outbreak.  Specifically:
• A high deductible health plan can now cover, temporarily, telehealth and similar remote care services without a deductible.  The CARES Act also modifies rules relating to tax-advantaged accounts like HSAs, Health FSAs and others.  Over-the-counter medical products are now reimbursable without a prescription – a change to previous rules.
  
  
• More information from the IRS available here.

• The IRS has issued an alert to nursing homes and other care facilities that CARES Act stimulus payments should belong to the recipients, not to the facilities that are providing the care.  The IRS is taking this action after learning of concerns that individuals and businesses may be taking advantage of vulnerable seniors under their care who have received stimulus payments.  
• As the IRS says: “The payments are intended for the recipients, even if a nursing home or other facility or provider receives the person’s payment, either directly or indirectly by direct deposit or check.  These payments do not count as a resource for purposes of determining eligibility for Medicaid and other federal programs for a period of 12 months from receipt. They also do not count as income in determining eligibility for these programs."
• More information from the IRS available here.

For today’s good news story, I’m honoring Rosalian Mills of Wilmington, who turned 100 this past Friday.  Rosalian’s community threw her a parade, driving up to her house and paying tribute to her from a safe distance.  It’s just another way our communities are making milestones memorable despite the need for social distancing due to the outbreak.

As always, stay tuned to Coronavirus.gov and the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ website for the latest on the outbreak.  And please feel free to send good news stories our way to highlight in this newsletter.