WASHINGTON, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Subcommittee on Health Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) released the following statement on how provider relief from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is being disbursed:
“As health care providers continue to provide care during the pandemic, it’s important Congress and the administration work hand in glove to get them the resources they need. There is broad, bipartisan support for alleviating the strain being felt by hospitals and other providers around the country. Some providers are feeling the strain of caring for COVID-19 patients, while in many parts of the country the reduction in elective procedures is causing tremendous financial hardships, particularly in rural areas. That is exactly why the Trump administration has worked to disburse the first $30 billion installment from the $100 billion provided to the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in the CARES Act as fast as possible. Getting these funds out quickly meant relying on Medicare fee-for-service data. We discussed this first disbursement with Secretary Azar and HHS officials last week, and they acknowledged this disadvantages providers with large Medicaid and Medicare Advantage patient populations. We appreciate the secretary’s commitment to have supplemental disbursements to bring equity to these providers, and we commend his commitment to prioritizing hotspots and rural areas in the subsequent tranches of funding," said Walden and Burgess.
Background:
The CARES Act allocated additional $100 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. This new funding is designed to provide an influx of money to hospitals and other health care entities responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
An initial distribution of $30 billion in grants is going to health care providers and hospitals who are handling most COVID-19 patients and to Medicare hospitals and providers in proportion to the amount of payments they received from Medicare in fiscal year 2019. Taking this approach allows money to be distributed to hospitals and providers as quickly as possible, utilizing information the federal government already had available. Nearly 500,000 providers will receive this through electronic deposit to their accounts. Providers who normally receive a paper check for reimbursement will receive a paper check in the mail for this payment as well, within the next few weeks.
Within 30 days of receiving the payment, providers must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agreeing to the terms and conditions of payment. The portal for signing the attestation will be open the week of April 13, 2020.
