Our hospitals, health centers, nursing homes, and their workers are on the front lines of fighting COVID-19. I have been deeply focused on getting the necessary supplies these professionals need to treat patients and keep themselves safe.
The American Rescue Plan enacted on March 11, 2021, included:
• $7.66 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services to award to state and local public health departments to sustain public health workforces;
• $7.5 billion to enhance, expand, and improve nationwide COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration;
• $7.6 billion in funding for community health centers (CHCs) to establish, expand, and sustain the public health workforce to aid COVID-19 vaccine-related activities
• $8.5 billion in funding for rural providers to cover related expenses and lost revenues due to COVID-19
• $10 billion for the Defense Production Act to continue the production of PPE, ventilators, and other urgently needed medical supplies.
The RI state government has the lead role on PPE, but if you are a health care provider and need assistance getting in touch with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) regarding PPE requests, please contact my office.
Additionally, RIDOH has issued guidance to health care providers on conserving PPE, which you can view HERE.
Rural Provider Payments and Provider Relief Fund (PRF)
The application for both the Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 has closed. The American Rescue Plan established an $8.5 billion fund for rural providers to cover related expenses and lost revenues due to COVID-19. Rhode Island will receive $658,385 from this fund to serve communities and deliver care to Medicaid, Medicare, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries.
Under the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), Rhode Island has received over $419.7 million to pay salaries or recruit workers, purchase supplies or equipment such as N95 or surgical masks or ventilators, make capital investments, or cover other expenses related to preventing or responding to COVID-19.
For more information on payment distribution and how to attest to payments please visit the Provider Relief Fund Application and Attestation Portal.
The American Rescue Plan Act and the CARES Act provided $8.92 billion in supplemental funding for community health centers (CHCs), which are on the front lines in addressing COVID-19 in underserved communities across the country. This funding is in addition to the $100 million distributed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to CHCs on March 24, 2020, the $600 million provided by the interim COVID-19 legislation, and the health care provider fund that CHCs can also access.
Rhode Island’s CHCs have already benefited from multiple rounds of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the CARES Act.
Yes. Health care providers may apply for funding from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF) while simultaneously applying for funding from other government sources. If the health care provider then receives reimbursement of an expense from both the PHSSEF and another source, it would be obligated to repay the funding received from the PHSSEF. This same principal also applies to the new SBA7(a) loans, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, and the new EIDL Emergency Grant Program.
The CARES Act provides $1.32 billion in supplemental funding for community health centers (CHCs), which are on the front lines in addressing COVID-19 in underserved communities across the country. This funding is in addition to the $100 million distributed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to CHCs on March 24, the $600 million provided by the interim COVID-19 legislation, and the health care provider fund that CHCs can also access.
Rhode Island’s CHCs have already benefited from two rounds of funding from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental and the CARES Act.
