CARES Act: Relief for Hospitals, Physician Practices & Other Providers
April 14, 2020
The CARES Act includes relief to physician practices who are suffering financial loss due to COVID-19 by designating funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. CARES Act provides relief to individuals, businesses, nonprofits and others affected by COVID-19.
On April 10, 2020, HHS announced the immediate disbursement of the first $30 billion out of the $100 billion of this fund that Congress allocated to hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers. This initial $30 billion is being directed to hospitals and physician practices based on their share of Medicare fee-for-service spending. The total amount of Medicare FFS spending in 2019 was $484 billion. Hypothetically, if a Medicare provider with a Taxpayer ID Number (TIN) accounted for 1% of total Medicare FFS spending in 2019, the TIN would receive 1% of the $30 billion.
All facilities and health professionals that billed Medicare FFS in 2019 are eligible for the funds. These are grants, not loans, and do not have to be repaid.
Note that the funds will go to each organization’s TIN which normally receives Medicare payments, not to each individual physician. The automatic payments will come to the organizations via Optum Bank with “HHSPAYMENT” as the payment description.
The funds may be used either for healthcare-related expenses or for lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus. Recipients will need to attest to certain terms and conditions (PDF) within 30 days of receiving their grant.
Additional details about the allocation are available.
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About JPS:
Johnson Price Sprinkle PA is a 60+ year old accounting firm providing small to middle-market businesses with tax, business consulting, audit, and technology solution services. With offices in Asheville, Boone, and Marion, NC, our CPAs and JPS team strive to provide personal service alongside technical expertise resulting in our clients’ long-term financial success. We also invest time and energy in our community, taking pride in doing what we can to make Western North Carolina a better place. JPS Mission: To Be Greater by positively impacting our Clients, People, Community and Profession.
