The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making $25.5 billion in new funding available for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
American Rescue Plan (ARP)
About one-third of the funding ($8.5 billion) will be available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicare patients.
Provider Relief Fund (PRF)
The remaining $17 billion will be distributed through the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 to providers who can demonstrate loss of revenue and expenses incurred between July 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 due to the pandemic.
“This funding critically helps health care providers who have endured demanding workloads and significant financial strains amidst the pandemic,” says HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The funding will be distributed with an eye towards equity, to ensure providers who serve our most vulnerable communities will receive the support they need.”
How Do I Apply?
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will use existing Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare claims data in calculating payments. To expedite the application process, providers can use a single application for both the American Rescue Plan and the Provider Relief Fund.
The HHS will open a portal for providers to apply for funding beginning September 29, 2021.
In light of the challenges presented by the Delta variant, the HHS is also announcing a final 60-day grace period to help providers meet PRF reporting requirements on how they spent relief funds if they fail to meet the September 30, 2021 deadline for the first PRF Reporting Time Period.
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Hayes Locums Disclaimer: Please keep in mind this information is changing rapidly and is based on our current understanding of COVID-19, State Medical Boards and other resources. Information can and will likely change. We will continue to monitor and update this content as new information becomes available.
