HHS urged to give all providers more time to spend COVID-19 relief funds

AHA yesterday urged the Department of Health and Human Services to allow all health care providers to use their COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund payments until June 30, 2022, or the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, whichever is later. HHS recently extended the deadline to use PRF funds, but only for providers who received their funds after June 30, 2020. While AHA appreciates the partial extension, it said hospitals and health systems continue to incur expenses related to COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

“Hospitals and health systems must be able to apply their PRF money toward these costs, which they will undoubtedly continue to incur beyond June 30 and through the end of the PHE, without regard to when the funds were originally received,” AHA wrote.