Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Guidance Released

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

Late Friday, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) put out long-awaited guidance with specific timelines for reporting on the use of PRF dollars received by providers. The guidance addresses both how long providers have to use funds and when the use of the funds must be reported. The first reporting period opens on July 1 and must be completed by Sept. 30 and covers funds received before June 30, 2020. Those funds must be used by June 30 of this year, but funds received later have future deadlines for use.

The first reporting period will primarily impact care centers, which received payments in the first half of 2020. The next reporting period is for funds received in the second half of 2020 and will open on Jan. 1 of next year with a deadline of March 31. That reporting period will include more providers who received later payments, such as assisted living and adult day.

For care centers, the first reporting round will include part of their general distribution payment and their targeted distribution. Both of those can be used on COVID-19 related cost increases and lost revenue. In addition, the nursing home infection control distribution, which has much more limited allowable uses, will not be reported until next year but will be part of this same process.

The HHS announcement did not address the distribution of the more than $20 billion remaining in the PRF fund, but we are hopeful that it will move forward soon. Any funds providers receive in the second half of this year can be used through the end of 2022, and reporting on their use will be required in the first quarter of 2023.