The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is releasing more than $2 billion in provider relief fund payments to more than 7,600 providers across the country this week.
With these payments, HRSA, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has distributed more than $11 billion to more than 74,000 providers in 50 states, Washington D.C., and five territories, HHS says. HRSA also awarded nearly $7.5 billion to more than 43,000 rural providers in December 2021.
In this round of payments, HHS said it has “an increased focus on equity, including reimbursing a higher percentage of losses for smaller providers and incorporating ‘bonus’ payments for providers who serve Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries.”
To be eligible for the general distributions from the provider relief fund, a healthcare services organization must have billed for services under the Medicare fee-for-service program in 2019 and provided services under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). They also must have provided care for people with possible or confirmed cases of COVID-19 after January 31, 2020.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for health care providers and the communities they serve,” noted HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “The Provider Relief Fund remains an important tool in helping to sustain the critical health care services communities need and support the health care workforce that is delivering on the frontlines every day.”
