Relief funding: CMS stops accepting new applications for advance payment

WASHINGTON - CMS has suspended its Advance Payment Program to Part B providers and has stopped accepting new applications for the program as of April 26.

Additionally, CMS is re-evaluating the amounts that will be paid under its Accelerated Payment Program, as well as all pending and new applications for accelerated payments.

The agency made the announcement following the successful payment of more than $100 billion to health care providers through these programs and in light of the $175 billion recently appointed for health care provider relief payments.

Since expanding the programs on March 28, CMS has approved more than 24,000 applications advancing $40.4 billion in payments for Part B providers.

CMS says funding will continue to be available for hospitals and other health care providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response, primarily from the Provider Relief Fund.

Congress appropriated $100 billion in the CARES Act and $75 billion through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act for health care providers. HHS is distributing this money through the Provider Relief Fund.

Second tranche of CARES Act funding starts

HHS has begun distributing the remaining $20 billion of the $50 billion in relief funding available to hospitals and providers as part of the national response to the coronavirus pandemic, VGM and AAHomecare report. The funding is part of the $100 billion in relief funding called for in the CARES Act. The first $30 billion was delivered between April 10-17 to Medicare providers that received payments in 2019. The second $20 billion will be delivered to providers based on 2018 net patient revenue. HHS has automatically started distributing funds to providers that have submitted cost reporting data to CMS. Those that do not submit a cost report need to apply for additional funding through the General Distribution Portal.