Texas practitioners are receiving more than $642 million in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 payments totaling nearly $9 billion nationally, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced.
PRF payments go to “health care providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the agency said. It’s part of $25.5 billion the Biden-Harris administration is releasing for staff retention and recruitment, supply purchases, modernizing facilities, and other COVID-19 response activities, HHS added.
In this phase of funding, distributed through HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), smaller practices are receiving a greater percentage of their losses than larger ones.
“Approximately 75% of Phase 4 funding is being distributed based on expenses and decreased revenues from July 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. HRSA is reimbursing a higher percentage of losses and expenses for smaller providers – which generally entered into the COVID-19 pandemic on worse financial footing, have historically operated on slimmer financial margins, and typically care for vulnerable populations – as compared to larger providers,” HHS said.
HRSA defined small practitioners as those with $10 million or less in annual net patient care revenues; “medium” as between $10 million and $100 million; and “large” as $100 million or greater.
In Texas, 5,673 practitioners will receive $642,731,720.
According to the announcement, HRSA is “reviewing the remaining Phase 4 applications and will make the remainder of Phase 4 payments in 2022.” More information on the PRF is available on HRSA’s website.
Last Updated On
July 20, 2023
Originally Published On
December 15, 2021