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September 13, 2021

Updates on PRF and ARP Funding

On September 29, applications to apply for American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural funding and Provider Relief Fund (PRF) phase 4 will open. Overall, $8.5 billion in ARP funding and $17 billion in PRF will be distributed to rural health providers who serve Medicaid, the Children’s Health Care Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicare patients. Specifically, funding from the PRF will be used to make up revenue loss and expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic from July 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. This phase 4 funding also plans to alleviate smaller providers who provide services to vulnerable communities by reimbursing them at a higher rate than larger providers.

In addition to this funding, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released guidance on the methodology used to calculate Phase 3 payments which can be found here: detailed information – PDF

HHS has also included in this announcement a final 60-day grace period to help providers come into compliance with PRF Reporting requirements if they are unable to meet the September 30, 2021 deadline of the first PRF reporting time period.

For more information on this funding and how to apply click here: https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/future-payments

To read the announcement on this funding click here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/09/10/hhs-announces-the-availability-of-25-point-5-billion-in-covid-19-provider-funding.html