UPDATE: HHS Delays Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements

Healthcare providers that received Provider Relief Funds (“Funds”) from the Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) have anticipated an initial February 15, 2021 deadline for reporting on the use of Funds.  However, today HHS issued a release stating that “PRF recipients will now be required to submit their reporting requirements on their use of these funds later than previously announced.”  HHS explained that the change was due to the late December passage of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which added another $3 billion in funding and included language specific to reporting requirements.  In order to ensure reporting is consistent with the December law, HHS is taking the additional time to roll out the full reporting process.

Providers should be aware that HHS is encouraging Fund recipients that received payments that exceed $10,000 to establish a reporting account by registering at the newly accessible portal.  HHS also noted that the reporting requirements just released today do not apply to funds from: “Nursing Home Infection Control, Rural Health Clinics Testing, and COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured recipients.”

Though there is currently no deadline for providers to establish a reporting account in the newly enabled reporting portal, HHS stated that “all providers will be required to complete this first step in order to advance and fulfill their reporting requirements once HHS announces the new deadline to do so.”  Providers should continue to expeditiously prepare for reporting, as it is not currently clear how delayed the reporting requirement will be.

For more information, please contact Hedy S. Rubinger or Alexander B. Foster.