The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) is managed by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and dollars are held within its Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA).
These funds have been distributed to healthcare providers and facilities for financial assistance and do not have to be repaid as long as the provider meets the PRF’s terms and conditions and demonstrates financial need through reporting.
On September 10, 2021, the HHS announced another round of funding; a phase 4 general distribution and a rural provider distribution. Details of the announcement can be found here.
Additionally, HHS has announced that they will be designing a process by which phase 3 provider recipients may be reconsidered for funds. A detailed Phase 3 payment calculation methodology has been made available and can be found here. Those recipients interested in a reconsideration of a Phase 3 distribution should contact PRFReconsiderations@hrsa.gov.
Phase 4 General Distribution
HHS has earmarked $17 billion in funding for this general distribution. The providers’ lost revenue and changes in operating expenses for the time period July 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 will be factors in funding with special consideration given to smaller providers and those who provide services to Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicare patients.
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Distribution
$8.5 billion in funding will be made available to providers who serve Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare patients who live in rural areas defined by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP). Providers can enter an address here to determine eligibility.
More information on how the payments will be calculated and who is eligible to apply can be found here.
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