Relief Fund Application Now Open for Healthcare Providers Affected by the Pandemic
Article Updated September 30, 2021
Starting September 29, 2021, health care providers will be able to apply for $25.5 billion in relief funds that includes $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicare patients. Additionally, $17 billion is available for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for a broad range of providers who can document revenue loss and changes in expenses associated with the pandemic.
Those providers that can provide documentation of significant losses due to the pandemic from July 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, may be eligible for funding. The providers’ most recent tax documents and financial statements for the second half of calendar year (CY) 2020 and the first quarter of CY 2021, may be used as supporting documentation.
The application will be open for four weeks. Providers must submit their completed application by the deadline of October 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Eligibility requirements, application instructions and links, technical webinars and other helpful resources are available on the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) website here: https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/future-payments
To ensure equity and to support healthcare providers with the most need, HRSA will reimburse a higher percentage for those providers that are considered smaller than others. They will also provide extra payments to providers based on the amount of services rendered to Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare patients.
For those providers that render services to those patients that live in Federal Office of Rural Health Policy-defined rural areas, $8.5 billion will be distributed based on the number of services provided. Price payments will be at the higher Medicare rates for Medicaid and CHIP patients.
- Review what areas qualify providers for this potential funding here: https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health?tab=Address
Sources:
“Future Payments.” Official Web Site of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, 10 Sept. 2021, www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/future-payments.
“Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.” Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health?tab=Address.
“Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements and Auditing.” Official Web Site of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, 10 Sept. 2021, www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/reporting-auditing.