*You are encouraged to share this information with your peers and colleagues throughout the industry as you deem appropriate.*
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According to information from several sources, it is expected that early next week HHS will make an announcement on a fourth tranche from the provider relief fund (PRF) for all eligible health care providers, including long-term care providers. While specific details are not yet known, it is anticipated that the methodology will focus on provider losses from Q3 and Q4 of 2020 and Q1 of 2021. The total amount of PRF dollars remaining is estimated at $20–30 billion.
As we wait for an official announcement, we are hopeful our voices are being heard on Capitol Hill and by the administration in our continued push for targeted funding for the sector. We have received encouraging feedback from officials at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and nearly two dozen congressional offices have relayed our message to the administration in recent weeks to underscore the need for targeted and equitable relief. Our message to the administration is bolstered by the recent NORC and NIC research report on the comparably favorable outcomes in senior living facilities despite the disparity in relief, along with the recently released state-based infographics showing projected losses at nearly $30 billion nationally, and the congressional sign-on letters sent to the administration at Argentum’s request in April that garnered the support of 59 members of the House of Representatives and 25 Senators, all amplifying our call for targeted and equitable relief.
We want to again extend our sincere appreciation for your support and active engagement on this issue and continued patience as we’ve worked to secure additional relief. As soon as official information is announced we will pass this along to you and share any pertinent information on applying for relief that is made available.
Revised Reporting Requirements
We also wanted to share that earlier today, HRSA released revised PRF reporting requirements for providers who received one or more payments exceeding, in the aggregate, $10,000 during a single “payment received period.” The revised requirements include extending the 30-day reporting period to 90-days, extending the period to use funds and setting this period to the date of payment (rather than by June 30, 2021), and reducing burdens for smaller providers, among other changes. The PRF Reporting Portal will open for providers to start submitting information on July 1, 2021. Additional information on these updates is available on the PRF Reporting Webpage, PRF Reporting Portal User Guide, and Frequently Asked Questions. We will also provide a detailed analysis of these changes next week.
Summary of Reporting Requirements
