As urged by the AHA, HHS to allow hospitals more time to spend COVID-19 emergency relief funds

As urged by the AHA and other groups, the Department of Health and Human Services today announced that it is extending the deadline by which hospitals and other providers that received Provider Relief Fund money after June 30, 2020, must use their COVID-19 PRF payments. The HHS announcement also extends the amount of time providers will have to report information on the use of their PRF money as part of other changes to PRF reporting requirements and clarifies which providers must report.

In a statement shared with the media this afternoon, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said, “The Provider Relief Fund has been a life-line to hospitals, health systems and caregivers across the country, helping to keep our doors open during the pandemic in order to continue providing essential services to patients and communities. The AHA thanks HHS for listening to our concerns and extending the deadline for hospitals, health systems and other health care providers to use this critical relief funding. Today’s announcement to give some health care providers more time to spend emergency coronavirus funding will to help ensure that hospitals and health systems can continue the battle against COVID-19 as cases persist.”