The Latest HHS, CMS, and OCR Funding and Regulatory Changes in Response to COVID-19

Providers will be distributed a portion of the initial $30 billion based on their share of total Medicare FFS reimbursements in 2019. Total FFS payments were approximately $484 billion in 2019.

A provider can estimate their payment by dividing their 2019 Medicare FFS (not including Medicare Advantage) payments they received by $484,000,000,000, and multiply that ratio by $30,000,000,000. Providers can obtain their 2019 Medicare FFS billings from their organization’s revenue management system. 

If you’re eligible for these payments, you can find details for the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund here. Looks like HHS has partnered with UnitedHealth Group to deliver the initial $30 billion. Providers will be paid via Automated Clearing House account information on file with UHG, UnitedHealthcare, or Optum Bank, or used for reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). If you normally receive a paper check for reimbursement for CMS, a paper check will be sent in the next few weeks.