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HHS Distributing $2 Billion in Provider Relief Fund Payments to Additional Health Care Providers Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
January 26, 2022
In December 2021, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), began releasing Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments to providers and suppliers. Phase 4 payments included new elements specifically focused on equity, including reimbursing smaller providers for their changes in operating revenues and expenses at a higher rate compared to larger providers, and bonus payments based on the amount of services providers furnish to Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicare beneficiaries.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the HRSA, is now making more than $2 billion in PRF Phase 4 General Distribution payments to more than 7,600 providers across the country this week. These payments come on the heels of the nearly $9 billion in funding that was already released by HHS in December 2021. With this announcement, a total of nearly $11 billion in PRF Phase 4 payments have been distributed to more than 74,000 providers in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and five territories.
This is in addition to HRSA’s distribution of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments totaling nearly $7.5 billion in funding to more than 43,000 providers in December 2021. In November 2021, HRSA began releasing ARP Rural payments to providers and suppliers who have served rural Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare beneficiaries from January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020. Every eligible provider that served at least one rural Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP beneficiary will receive funding. A total of 43,842 Providers in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and six territories received $7,480,442 in ARP Rural payments ranging from $500 to approximately $43 million.
Provider Relief Fund payments have been critical in helping health care providers prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Providers have used the funds to remain in operation and to continue supporting patient care by covering a variety of costs including personnel, recruitment and retention initiatives, medical supplies, information technology, and many other functions. Further detail is available in the HHS press release linked below:
