AHA to HHS: Allow providers to use relief funds until COVID-19 emergency ends

AHA yesterday urged the Department of Health and Human Services to extend the deadline for hospitals and other health care providers to use their COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund payments until the end of the public health emergency. The current deadline is June 30. 

“While new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have slowed since the peak this winter, they are still significant,” AHA wrote. “For example, approximately 50,000 new cases of COVID-19 are still occurring each day. In addition, there are still more than 35,000 hospitalized COVID-19 inpatients, on average, over the last several days. Hospitals and health systems continue to incur expenses related to these COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, such as ensuring an adequate workforce, acquiring equipment and supplies such as personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals and safety equipment, and maintaining testing and additional screening for every hospital patient. They absolutely should be able to apply their PRF funds toward these costs, which they will undoubtedly continue to incur beyond June 30 and through the end of the PHE.”