WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made $25.5 billion in funds available starting Sept. 29th. HHS is now accepting applications for General Distribution Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments. HHS is also accepting requests for reconsideration of Phase 3 payment calculations.
CARES Act
There's no such thing as a free lunch
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 14, 2021)—The Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is making $25.5 billion in new funding available for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
PHOENIX, Arizona (July 13, 2021)—A number of legal and government entities will be hunting for fraud around COVID-19 relief programs, and the health care sector—the largest recipient of first-draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans—is dead in their sights.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 15, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced important new information for recipients of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund (PRF). Below are the key changes:
ARLINGTON, Va. (June 1, 2021)—Home medical equipment (HME) suppliers in rural and other non-bid areas received significant support in the April 2020 Cares Act through measures that extended the 50/50 blended rate for rural suppliers through the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), and for the first time provided a 75/25 rate (a blend using 75% current adjusted rates and 25% unadjusted rates) for suppliers in other non-bid areas for the duration of the PHE.
An update on Medicaid priorities from AAHomecare
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 12, 2021)—The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will reopen the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the CY 2021 Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Fee Schedule. As of Jan. 1, 2021, CMS will continue to apply the CARES Act relief rates for rural and nonrural areas.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 4, 2020)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Provider Relief Fund changes reopening applications for Medicare-based relief funding and extending the Medicaid-based relief application deadline.
PHILADELPHIA (July 28, 2020)—The Pennsylvania Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCED) has informed the Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers (PAMS) that home medical equipment (HME) providers will now be eligible to receive COVID-19 hazard pay as part of the grant program for frontline workers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 14, 2020)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) joined other health care groups in asking Congress to affirm tax-exempt status for recent relief for healthcare providers, as noted in a late June press release.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7, 2020)—Newly available relief from the Provider Relief Fund for entities who billed Medicaid/CHIP programs or Medicaid managed care plans was not available for providers who were eligible for the initial tranche of Medicare-based relief, as noted two weeks ago.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 26, 2020)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) recently met with TRICARE East contractor Humana Military on a range of issues, including implementation of new reimbursement rates authorized by COVID-19 relief legislation, the CARES Act.
WASHINTON, D.C. (June 25, 2020)—AAHomecare has joined 17 other major health care provider organizations seeking to fix a taxation penalty embedded in the CARES Act. Without congressional action, many providers will lose more than a fifth of the grant funds approved by Congress to help health care providers respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Managing paychecks, unemployment claims, virus fears and more
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 19, 2020)—As noted last week, HHS opened the application portal for CARES Act relief for Medicaid/CHIP-only providers. The new round of relief is for health care providers who have directly billed their state Medicaid/CHIP programs or Medicaid managed care plans between Jan.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2020)—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a 45-day deadline extension for providers who are receiving payments from the Provider Relief Fund to accept the terms and conditions for Provider Relief Fund payments on May 22. This announcement means providers have now been granted 90 days from the date they received a payment to accept HHS Terms and Conditions or return the funds.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 28, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is reevaluating the amounts that will be paid under its Accelerated Payment Program and suspending its Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers effective immediately.