AHA again pushes for Provider Relief Fund extension before deadline
At the time of publishing, HHS had not extended the deadline for PRF payments.
Photo: Kathleho Seisa/Getty Images
In a last-ditch effort before the deadline for some providers to use their COVID-19 relief funding, the American Hospital Association sent a letter on Tuesday to the Department of Health and Human Services imploring it to extend the cutoff.
The deadline for using the relief funds providers received from April 10 through June 30, 2020, was June 30, 2021. In its letter, the AHA asked HHS to extend that window until the end of the public health emergency or, at least, through the end of the year.
On June 11, HHS issued new guidance on the reporting requirements and timeline for Provider Relief Fund payments. The update created staggered deadlines for when providers had to use the funds but didn't change the deadline for payments received before June 30, 2020.
In the announcement, HHS said the new deadlines gave providers "equitable amounts of time for use of these funds," but the AHA begs to differ.
At the time of publishing, HHS had not extended the deadline for PRF payments.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
The AHA argued that cutting off access to COVID-19 relief funds is irresponsible as hospitals continue to deal with the fallout of the pandemic, especially now, when cases are rising in some parts of the country.
"Hospitals and health systems continue to need to make investments in staffing, supplies and capital projects specifically to respond to COVID-19, and these costs will continue until the PHE abates," the letter said. "We question the rationale for limiting access to the allotted funds while the PHE continues, especially when Congress did not include such a limit when it authorized these funds."
The provider advocacy organization also said the deadline is unfair to providers due to uncertainty around the appropriate use of the funds. It asserts this on the basis that there were unique terms and conditions for each distribution, that the FAQs were frequently adjusted throughout the pandemic, and that many hospitals were reportedly waiting to use their payments until final guidance on reporting was given, which didn't happen until mid-June.
Similar to the pandemic itself, the AHA said that closing the window to use PRF payments will have a disproportionate effect on providers serving vulnerable communities.
"While all hospitals will struggle to meet the ongoing demands of the PHE without access to their initial PRF distributions, those in vulnerable urban and rural communities will most certainly fare worse," the letter said. "This disparity across communities will only exacerbate longstanding inequities in our healthcare system, and pull critical funding from providers serving those most in need."
THE LARGER TREND
The Provider Relief Fund has been a source of financial backing for a number of different efforts and initiatives, including the training, staffing and storage related to COVID-19 vaccines.
The AHA has been adamant in requesting a longer time frame for providers to use their relief funds. It sent letters to HHS in May and June requesting an extension.
Twitter: @HackettMallory
Email the writer: mhackett@himss.org
