Employment Law Report

By: Emily H. Lineweaver

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on January 25, 2022 that it is distributing more than $2 billion in Provider Relief Funds (PRF) to more than 7,600 healthcare providers across the country this week.  This is part of the Phase 4 General Distribution of PRF payments, bringing the total payments distributed in Phase 4 to nearly $11 billion to more than 74,000 providers. According to HHS, “[PRF] payments have been critical in helping healthcare providers prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.  Providers have used the funds to remain in operation and to continue supporting patient care by covering a variety of costs including personnel, recruitment and retention initiatives, medical supplies, information technology, and many other functions.” Phase 4 payments will focus on “equity, including reimbursing a higher percentage of losses for smaller providers and incorporating ‘bonus’ payments for providers who serve Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries.”