HHS Offers Important Update on Provider Relief Fund

With the recent passage of the Coronavirus Response Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act through Congress, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it will be updating its reporting timeline for the Provider Relief Fund Program.

For months, the Department of Health and Human Services has been working to update reporting requirements that are in compliance with this recently passed legislation. Beginning on January 15, 2021, all recipients of Provider Relief Fund Program funds could start registering gateway access to the Reporting Portal, which is what they would use to submit their information to be in compliance with the new HHS updates. Participants in the program will now be required to submit data on the use of received funds later than previously understood.

Provider Relief Fund Program Updates: What You Need to Know

In the summer of 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services outlined specific instructions concerning reporting for any recipient of Provider Relief funds that totaled more than $10,000. At that time, the first deadline for submissions to the Reporting Portal was expected to be on February 15, 2021. However, because the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a new Coronavirus relief package, was passed in December 2020 and $3 billion of funding was added to the program, all of that has officially changed. Equally complicating things at the time was the fact that the new law added language that was specific to those reporting requirements.

These reporting requirement updates were being done in an effort to give all parties enough time to familiarize themselves with the new information and to allow them time to gather all essential documents and other information ahead of the upcoming deadlines.

Note that while HHS has announced that updates are forthcoming, they have yet to specify exactly when the new first deadline for submissions will be.

Still, they're encouraging all recipients of Provider Relief funds that exceed that $10,000 threshold to create a new reporting account by registering on the program’s website. It's equally important to note that the new reporting requirements don't apply to funds received from places like:

• Nursing Home Infection Control.
• Rural Health Clinics Testing.
• COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for the Express Purpose of Testing.
• Treatment and Vaccine Administration for Uninsured Individuals.

All providers will soon be required to complete this initial step in order to successfully complete their reporting requirements in compliance with the new legislation. However, they will have at least until the Department of Health and Human Services formally announces their new deadline in order to do so.

If you'd like to find out more information about how these recent updates may impact you, or if you'd just like to discuss the specifics of your own needs in more detail, contact Baldwin CPAs today.