HHS is distributing $9 billion in payments to healthcare providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Dec. 14 news release.
Six things to know:
1. The aid is part of the $25.5 billion the federal government is releasing to healthcare providers to respond to the pandemic. The $9 billion in Provider Relief Fund phase 4 payments will go to providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the pandemic.
2. The funds will be split among more than 69,000 healthcare providers.
3. To be eligible for the general distributions, a provider must have billed Medicare fee-for-service in 2019, be a known Medicaid and CHIP or dental provider, and provided diagnoses, testing or care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19 after Jan. 31, 2020, according to a general information page updated Dec. 4, 2020. A description of the eligibility for targeted distributions can be found here.
4. HHS said the average payment for small providers is $58,000, for medium providers $289,000, and to large providers $1.7 million.
5. California is the state with the most providers receiving a portion of the $9 billion, with more than 9,300 providers in the state receiving a total of $894.3 million.
6. Payments will start to be made later this week.