HHS Provides More COVID-19 Relief Funds to Healthcare Providers

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced more than $413 million in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments to more than 3,600 providers across the country. This is the fourth round of PRF Phase 4 payments, totaling nearly $12 billion that has been distributed to more than 82,000 providers in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and five territories since November 2021. This is in addition to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) distribution of American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural payments totaling nearly $7.5 billion in funding to more than 44,000 providers across the country over the past four months. “These funds have helped save lives throughout the pandemic,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “As we continue to make progress in defeating COVID-19, it’s important to keep supporting our providers with the resources they need so we can all build back better and healthier than before.”

In September 2021, HHS opened applications for $25.5 billion in COVID- 19 provider funding. With this latest installment, more than $19 billion of this funding has been awarded. Phase 4 payments reimburse smaller providers for a higher percentage of losses during the pandemic and include bonus payments for providers who serve Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicare beneficiaries.

PRF payments received in the first half of 2022 can be used until June 30, 2023. With these payments, approximately 89 percent of all Phase 4 applications have been processed. Remaining applications require additional manual review, and HRSA is working to process them as quickly as possible.

For additional information, visit www. hrsa.gov/provider-relief.