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HHS Includes Behavioral Healthcare Providers in Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 Distribution
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday announced an additional $20 billion is available from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) for healthcare providers to recover Covid-19-related financial losses and changes in operating expenses. HHS highlighted behavioral healthcare providers in its announcement and encouraged these providers to apply for this latest round of funding. HHS has developed a list of behavioral healthcare providers who are now eligible for funding, such as addiction counseling centers, mental health counselors, and psychiatrists. “Our behavioral health providers have shouldered the burden of responding and…
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HHS Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Change Terms for Recovering Lost Revenue
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued guidance that contradicts the department’s June FAQ about calculating lost revenue from Covid-19 that may be recovered through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’s (CARES) Provider Relief Fund (PRF). In the June FAQ, HHS said providers could “use any reasonable method of estimating the revenue during March and April 2020 compared to the same period had Covid-19 not appeared.” This latest guidance defines lost revenue that may be recovered as being limited to “a negative change in year-over-year net patient care operating income.” The…
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CMS Makes Covid-19 Data Collection a Requirement in Conditions of Participation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requiring Covid-19 data collection and reporting as a condition of participation (CoP) for hospitals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including psychiatric facilities. CMS added the requirement with other provisions in an interim final rule and said it will accept comments for 60 days. The rule noted the requirement will become effective when it is published in the Federal Register, although it did not list a specific date. Under the new requirement, hospitals will need to report daily data, including—but not…
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HHS Extends Phase 2 General Distribution Deadline to Sept. 13
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the deadline to apply for Phase 2 General Distribution Funding for Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, Children’s Health Insurance Program, dental providers, and certain Medicare providers until Sunday, Sept. 13. This funding is through the Provider Relief Fund, which the federal government established in this year’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. These payments do not need to be repaid to the government if providers comply with terms and conditions.…
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2020 NABH Annual Survey Starts Aug. 28!
Data Collection for the 2020 NABH Annual Survey Starts this Week! I am pleased to announce that data collection for the 2020 NABH Annual Survey will begin on Friday, Aug. 28. Your participation in this survey will help us continue to provide an accurate, up-to-the-minute picture of the U.S. behavioral healthcare industry. Please note that we have added a few new questions related to substance use. This will help us better measure our membership’s activities. Look for a Message from Consulting Firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, LLC Our contractor,…
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HHS to Host Provider Relief Fund Webinar on Thursday, Aug. 13
The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) will host an informational webinar for healthcare providers about applying to the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund this Thursday, Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. ET. Please click here to register. HHS announced on July 31 that certain Medicare-participating providers would have another opportunity to receive additional Provider Relief Fund payments. These are the providers who missed an early June deadline to apply for additional funding equal to 2% of their total patient care revenue from the $20 billion portion of the $50 billion…