On The Hill

COVID-19 Latest

Efforts to provide interim emergency coronavirus relief were stalled this week after partisan disagreement in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tried to approve $250 billion in new money for small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), but was met with opposition from Democrats, who believed the plan did not do enough to support hospitals and local governments.

The Democratic plan included $250 billion in small business relief, in addition to a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits and $150 billion for states, tribal governments, and local governments. The plan would have also provided $100 billion in funding to provide grants to hospitals, public entities, not for profit entities, Medicare and Medicaid enrolled suppliers, and institutional providers to cover unreimbursed health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to the public health emergency resulting from the coronavirus. The proposal also called for HHS, FEMA, and other agencies to report to Congress every 30 days on COVID-19 testing strategy and would have created special ACA enrollment periods for uninsured individuals.

Both parties failed to get their proposals through on unanimous consent. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have both been in communication with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin regarding an interim emergency deal and a CARES 2 package, but it is unclear when such a deal will be reached. The Senate returns for a pro forma session on Monday morning (Apr. 13).

Coronavirus resources, including information on the CARES Act, can be found on our website. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Click here to view a US Pharmacopeia’s guidance to regulators: “Pandemic Preparedness for Regulators in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”

HHS Begins Dispersing CARES Act Provider Relief

On Friday (Apr. 10), HHS released guidance on the use of $100 billion allocated for healthcare provider relief in the CARES Act. The funding is intended to be used to support healthcare-related expenses and lost revenue attributable to COVID-19.

Starting Friday (Apr. 10), HHS will begin distributing $30 billion of the fund through direct deposits to facilities and providers that received Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursements in 2019. Providers must agree not to collect out-of-pocket payments from COVID-19 patients greater than what in-network costs would have been.

Payment distribution was determined based on a providers share of total Medicare FFS reimbursements in 2019. Providers will be paid via the ACH account on file with United Health Group or CMS.

To view the full HHS guidance, click here.