Health Care Law Blog
The Provider Relief Fund was established through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES Act) to support health care providers facing lost revenue and increased expenses relating to COVID-19. Within the Provider Relief Fund, certain amounts are allocated for various types of providers. For example, there are specific allocations to hospitals, rural hospitals, and providers treating uninsured patients for COVID-19. Additionally, $50 billion was allocated for general distribution to providers. Of the $50 billion, the first $30 billion was quickly disbursed to facilities and providers who received Medicare fee-for-service reimbursements in 2019. The remaining $20 billion of the general distribution was distributed beginning on April 24, 2020.
The Context
There have been over 40,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan. This figure includes over 4,000 deaths. We are currently averaging about 1,000 new cases and 100 new deaths per day. Fortunately, the curve is flattening and some areas of the state have seen decreases.
On May 3, 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provided guidance on the best practices for continued compliance with Executive Order 2020-17. Executive Order 2020-17 implemented temporary restrictions on non-essential medical and dental procedures as of March 21, 2020. Executive Order 2020-17 required all hospitals, freestanding surgical outpatient facilities, dental facilities, and state operated outpatient facilities (collectively, “covered facilities”) to temporarily postpone all non-essential medical and dental procedures until the state of emergency in Michigan is lifted. Currently, the state of emergency is set to continue through May 28, 2020 under Executive Order 2020-68.
