Bipartisan congressional leaders ask HHS to clarify plan for distributing additional relief funds

Jun 03, 2020 - 04:03 PM
COVID19 Web Sized

Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Finance committees today asked Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to clarify by June 10 the agency’s plan and timeline for disbursing COVID-19 emergency relief funds to Medicaid-dependent providers.

“As the chairs and ranking members of the committees of jurisdiction over the Medicaid program, we are concerned that the delay in disbursing funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for Medicaid-dependent providers could result in long term financial hardship for providers who serve some of our most vulnerable populations,” wrote Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and Ranking Member Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Senate Finance Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore. “It could also severely hamper their ability to continue to serve as essential providers amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”

AHA yesterday urged HHS to quickly distribute additional emergency funds to all hospitals, including hospitals serving high numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients, among other recommendations.

Related News Articles

Headline
CMS issues proposed provider tax rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released a proposed rule that would update Medicaid provider tax policies included in the July 2025…
Headline
AHA comments to CMS on proposed rule covering Medicaid supplemental payments
The AHA provided comments July 21 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on its proposed rule to modify policies governing Medicaid…
Headline
DHS finalizes changes to public charge rule 
The Department of Homeland Security July 16 finalized its proposal to rescind the public charge ground of inadmissibility regulations issued in 2022. Among…
Headline
CMS eliminates ‘fast-track’ process for certain Medicaid section 1115 waivers 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 7 released a bulletin announcing the end of its “fast-track” review process for certain Medicaid section…
Headline
HHS to end emergency authorization for COVID-19 drugs, medical devices 
The Department of Health and Human Services June 30 announced it will terminate emergency use authorization declarations for certain drugs and medical devices…
Headline
AHA files amicus brief in case challenging HHS, CMS on provider taxes 
The AHA drafted and filed an amicus brief June 17 in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case regarding Medicaid financing and provider taxes filed by…