New Provider Relief Fund Distributions

On September 29, 2021, health care providers will be able to apply for $25.5 billion in relief funds, including $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for providers who serve rural patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for a broad range of providers with changes in operating revenues and expenses. The application will be open for a period of four weeks. Providers must submit their completed application by the final deadline of October 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Providers who have previously created an account in the Provider Relief Fund Application and Attestation Portal and have not logged in for more than 90 days will need to first reset their password before starting a new application.

In order to streamline the application process and minimize administrative burdens, providers will apply for both programs in a single application and HRSA will use existing Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare claims data in calculating portions of these payments.

• Phase 4 General Distribution — $17 billion based on providers’ changes in operating revenues and expenses from July 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.
  • To promote equity and to support providers with the most need, HRSA will:
    • Reimburse smaller providers for changes in operating revenues and expenditures at a higher percentage compared to larger providers.
    • Provide "bonus" payments based on the amount of services they provide to Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare patients, priced at the generally higher Medicare rates.
• American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural — $8.5 billion based on the amount of services providers furnish to Medicaid/CHIP and Medicare beneficiaries living in Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)-defined rural areas.
  • To promote equity, HRSA will price payments at the generally higher Medicare rates for Medicaid/CHIP patients.

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