Employed Physicians: Your advocacy tools for federal funding during COVID-19
As a benefit for our employed family physicians, the AAFP and IAFP offer the following background and talking points to ascertain whether or not their systems received funding and what impact the specific distribution of those funds will have on their practice:
Background: The Cares Act Provider Relief Funds provides $100 billion in relief funds to hospitals and other healthcare providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response. The relief funds will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19, among other provisions. All healthcare facilities and providers that received Medicare fee for service reimbursement in 2019 are eligible for these payments. This is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. Payments to large medical group practice will be sent to the group’s billing office. Relief payments are made according to the billing organization’s tax identification number. The portal was opened on April 10, 2020. Here are more resources from CMS:
HHS Relief Fund Terms and Conditions
CMS Approves Accelerated/Advance Payment Program for Medicare Providers
Statement to your organization’s leadership:
- We’re encouraged by the ongoing support and expanded innovation from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) in relief funds to hospitals and other healthcare providers on the front lines of this pandemic.
Follow-up questions:
- Has our organization received funding? Can you share an update?
- When was funding received?
- What was the amount?
Statement to your organization’s leadership:
We’re confident these funds will be put to good use.
Follow-up questions:
- Can you share if the funds be shared across the entire organization?
- If so, is this a dollar amount or percentage?
- How will funds be utilized across the entire organization?
- Across specific segments of the organization?
- If so, what are the segments?
2. Is this a percentage or dollar amount?
- Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries?
- Patient volume?
- Areas of high impact?
- How will funds be utilized?
Statement to your organization’s leadership:
Thank you for your leadership and advocacy on behalf of our practices.
Follow-up questions:
How will this impact my practice?
- If my practice receives funding, are there organization stipulations I need to follow?
- If so, what are they?
- Is my practice required to keep financial records for compliance?
Statement to your organization’s leadership:
Given the magnitude of this pandemic and subsequent funding and support, (institution’s name) transparency would greatly alleviate our physicians’ anxiety and help everyone plan accordingly.
Follow-up question:
Is there information I can provide my staff on the distribution of relief funds?
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