Healthcare Law Alert: HHS Issues Press Release on Timeline to Apply for Second Relief Payment

May 29, 2020 – HHS issued a press release on May 20, 2020, reminding providers that they have until June 3, 2020 to apply for the second payment from the Provider Relief Fund. The press release states that all providers who automatically received the second payment prior to 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2020 must submit by June 3rd their tax forms or financial statements to HHS via the General Distribution Portal. (The automatic payments were sent to providers who had cost reports on file with CMS). For those providers who did not automatically receive a second payment, submission of tax forms or financial statements will serve as an application for the second payment. Providers who do not submit revenue information by June 3rd will not be eligible to receive the additional payment.

In addition, the press release states that providers who have cases pending before HHS for adjudication regarding their eligibility for payments from the Provider Relief Fund will not be impacted by this closure date. All cases needing individual adjudication will need to be received by HHS no later than June 3, 2020. The only method to initiate an adjudication of eligibility appears to be by calling the UHG Provider Relief Hotline, (866) 569-3522. We would also recommend sending a letter to the address provided by HHS for returning relief funds that were received by paper check to: UnitedHealth Group, Attention: CARES Act Provider Relief Fund, PO Box 31376, Salt Lake City, UT 84131-0376.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the Provider Relief payments.

If you have any questions about this alert or any other Healthcare Law issue, please contact:

John D. Fanburg, Managing Member and Chair, Healthcare Law, at 973-403-3107 or jfanburg@pagconcepts.com

Joseph M. Gorrell, Member, Healthcare Law, at 973-403-3112 or jgorrell@pagconcepts.com

Carol Grelecki, Member, Healthcare Law, at 973-403-3140 or cgrelecki@pagconcepts.com

Susan E. Frankel, Associate, Healthcare Law, at 973-364-5209 or sfrankel@pagconcepts.com