Government Actions of Note to CHEST Members

JUNE 2020

Government Actions of Note to CHEST Members

Many changes in Washington related to healthcare access and payment as well as general economic policies have been announced on a nearly daily basis. Below are just some of those relevant to your practice:

Telemedicine/Coding

https://www.chestnet.org/Guidelines-and-Resources/COVID-19/Updates-and-Resources#PracticeManagementResources

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

The Small Business Administration Payroll support program with forgivable loans, 2.5 months.

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program

Provider Relief Fund

Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/index.html

EIDL Economic Injury Disaster Loan (Also an SBA program)

https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/EIDLLoans

CMS advance payments

This is not a new program but may be activated during disasters. It calls for accelerated and advanced payment programs under Medicare. It is suspended after $175 billion paid to providers and is an advance that must be paid back.

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/accelerated-and-advanced-payments-fact-sheet.pdf 

HRSA Program for Uninsured COVID-19 Patients

This program was funded under the same provision of the CARES Act. It is intended for treating uninsured patients with Covid-19 diagnosis to reimburse testing and care of the uninsured at Medicare rates.

https://www.hrsa.gov/CovidUninsuredClaim

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