Submitted on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 00:00

Yesterday, Sen. Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar raising concerns about the “delay in disbursing funds” from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund for Medicaid-dependent providers.  The Chairs and Ranking Members caution that the delay “could result in long term financial hardship for providers who serve some of our most vulnerable populations.”

The letter includes a series of questions for HHS response by June 10, 2020, as follows:

  • What is HHS’s timeline to release a dedicated tranche of funds for Medicaid-dependent providers?
  • How does HHS plan to release such funds to Medicaid-dependent providers?
  • What level of funding does HHS plan to dedicate to Medicaid-dependent providers to ensure a meaningful and equitable distribution?
  • What factors contributed to HHS waiting until May 1 to request Medicaid-dependent provider information from states?
  • What factors have contributed to the delays in disbursing funds to Medicaid-dependent providers and how has HHS been working to resolve them as expeditiously as possible to ensure the timely release of funds?

Additional information can be found in the attached letter.