U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on June 9 applauded action by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide an additional $25 billion in total distributions from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs.
“This is great news. Safety net hospitals and clinicians in West Virginia have really been struggling during COVID-19,” Sen. Capito said. “Those treating our state’s most vulnerable citizens have been on the front lines.”
Sen. Capito and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) also had sent a June 9 letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma asking that they consider the economic impact on hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of Medicaid and low-income patients as they distribute future congressionally appropriated COVID-19 related funding.
“We remain concerned that, to date, the allocations have not sufficiently targeted providers tasked with caring for vulnerable populations,” the senators wrote. “As such, as you distribute the remaining funding in the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, we respectfully request you consider a separate, targeted distribution of funding for health providers who make up the health care safety net in our states.”
HHS said on Tuesday that it expects to distribute approximately $15 billion to eligible providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs and have not received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund General Allocation, and also announced the distribution of $10 billion in Provider Relief Funds to safety net hospitals that serve America’s most vulnerable citizens.
The safety net distribution will occur this week, according to HHS.
“I’m glad HHS listened to my request on this issue and will be delivering funds to help keep these hospitals and providers afloat during this tough time,” said Sen. Capito.