HHS Distributing Additional $20 billion in Provider Relief Funds
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)it is delivering a second wave of $20 billion from the Provider Relief Fund to healthcare providers impacted by COVID-19.
The general distribution application portal is open for certain healthcare providers to apply for access to these funds.
The second distribution of $20 billion announced last week will be based on a provider’s portion of total estimated 2018 revenue. Healthcare entities that submit cost reports to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may receive an automatic distribution. Those without adequate cost report data are still eligible to receive funds, but will need to submit their revenue information through the application portal in order to receive additional money.
Funds will NOT be disbursed on a first-come-first-served basis. HHS has specified that an applicant will be given equal consideration regardless of when they apply; however, practices should consider submitting an application sooner rather than later. HHS is processing applications in batches every Wednesday at 12:00 noon EST. HHS intends to distribute additional funds within 10 business days of submission for groups that are submitting revenue info through the application portal.
Any group who has already received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund as of April 24th is eligible to receive additional funds under the second tranche. A portion of providers will automatically be sent a payment based off cost report data submitted to CMS. Providers without adequate cost report data on file are still be eligible to access a portion of the $20 billion, but will need to submit revenue information through the general distribution portal.
Providers who have not received any funding through the Provider Relief Fund as of April 24th are not eligible to use the portal, inferring they are not able to receive funding from the general distribution fund at this time. HHS notes that providers who have not received any Provider Relief Funds yet may still be eligible for payments from the Fund through other mechanisms, including Targeted Distributions.
