Tuesday, June 9 Update
Our Federal Advocacy Team is dedicated to providing frequent COVID-19 updates as they develop. Going forward, these updates will be distributed as developments warrant instead of nightly. These updates along with other resources can be found on the COVID-19 Resource Center page of Hall Render’s website.
Note – we believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time.
HHS Announces Funding for Medicaid and CHIP Providers and Safety-Net Hospitals
- HHS announced additional distributions from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund that will be made through HRSA. These distributions include:
- Approximately $15 billion to eligible Medicaid and CHIP providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs
- $10 billion to safety-net hospitals
- On Wednesday, HHS will launch an enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal that will allow eligible Medicaid and CHIP providers to report their annual patient revenue, which will be used as a factor in determining their payment. The announcement states, “The payment to each provider will be at least 2 percent of reported gross revenue from patient care; the final amount each provider receives will be determined after the data is submitted, including information about the number of Medicaid patients providers serve.”
Additional Provider Relief Fund Update
- On Monday, HHS sent an email asking hospitals to update information on their COVID-19 positive inpatient admissions for the period January 1, 2020 through June 10, 2020. This information will be used to determine a second round of funding to hospitals in COVID-19 hot spots. Data must be submitted by June 15, 2020 at 9:00 PM ET.
Congressional Outlook
- In the wake of last Friday’s better-than-expected jobs report, Republicans on Capitol Hill are now tapping the brakes on the timing of another stimulus bill. Staff for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have told Hall Render there will be another stimulus bill that includes provider-related provisions such as liability protections, increased DSH payments and changes to the Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program. That bill is now not expected to pass until late July.
CMS Issues Recommendations on Re-Opening Facilities for Non-Emergent/Non-COVID-19 Care
- CMS issued recommendations on re-opening health care facilities to provide non-emergent/non-COVID-19 health care.
From the FDA
- The FDA issued guidance, “Temporary Policy on Prescription Drug Marketing Act Requirements for Distribution of Drug Samples During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.”
For more information, please contact:
- John Williams III at (202) 370-9585 or jwilliams@wp.hallrender.com;
- Andrew Coats at (202) 370-9587 or acoats@wp.hallrender.com;
- Abby Kaericher at (202) 780-2989 or akaericher@wp.hallrender.com; or
- Your regular Hall Render attorney.
Hall Render’s attorneys and professionals continue to maintain the most up-to-date information and resources at our COVID-19 Resource page, through our 24/7 COVID‑19 Hotline at (317) 429-3900 or by contacting your regular Hall Render attorney.
Hall Render blog posts and articles are intended for informational purposes only. For ethical reasons, Hall Render attorneys cannot—outside of an attorney-client relationship—answer specific questions that would be legal advice.
