Additional COVID Relief Funds Available for Physicians, Including Focus on Rural Areas

On September 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of $25.5 billion in new funding for health care providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes $8.5 billion in resources from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicare patients. Additionally, $17 billion for the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for a range of providers who can report revenue loss and expenses caused by the pandemic.

In accordance with requirements of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020, PRF Phase 4 payments will be based on providers’ lost revenues and expenditures between July 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

HHS will make ARP rural payments to providers based on the amount of Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare services they provide to patients who live in rural areas as defined by the HHS Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. ARP rural payments will generally be based on Medicare reimbursement rates.

To expedite and streamline the application process, providers can apply for both programs in a single application.

HHS will hold a stakeholder briefing on Wednesday, September 15 at 4:30 PM ET to discuss the announcement on Provider Relief Funds.

The application portal will open on September 29, 2021.

Learn more here.

Read the full statement here.

ASA’s Economic Relief Resources