Happy belated Passover and Easter, and thanks again to our practices serving patients in these trying times.
To help with any financial needs arising from deferred visits and other reduced revenue during this crisis, we wanted to share tips/guides/links to the following government and CMS support programs (details below).
- CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
- CMS Accelerated Payment Program
- SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
- SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
1. The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund ($30B) supports healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. This is relevant to the lost revenue some of our primary care partners have experienced due to telehealth and/or postponed visits resulting from COVID-19. HHS has made clear that this program provides “payments, not loans, to healthcare providers”, unlike the Advance Payment Program below. Amounts paid to providers are determined by their %age of the total 2019 FFS reimbursements ($484B), multiplied by $30B. Payment will be made via ACH in most cases, via UnitedHealth Group. More information here.
2. Medicare has expanded the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program ($34B already approved) to ensure providers and suppliers have the resources needed to combat the pandemic. The streamlined process implemented by CMS for COVID-19 has reduced processing times for advance payments to 4-6 days, down from 3-4 weeks prior. If interested, please see this guide on how to submit an advanced payment request.
3. PPP: As part of the US Government’s pandemic relief, small businesses under 500 employees can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program, which extends a 1% interest, 2 year, forgivable loan in the amount of 2.5X monthly payroll/rent/mortgage interest expenses. More information can be found here at the SBA, but loans must be applied for at banks and non-bank lenders. Fountainhead, a non-bank lender, is one option if your bank is not accepting applications.
4. EIDL: SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) offers companies under 500 employees a ~3% loan for up to 30 year term. Use of proceeds varies from sick leave to increased costs from supply chains affected. NOTE: You can apply to both the EIDL and PPP loans as long as the use of proceeds don’t overlap. More information here at SBA, and you can apply directly via the SBA here.
Finally, here’s a great PPP vs. EIDL comparison.
If CircleLink can help your practice by driving more revenue with reimbursable remote care programs (CCM, RPM), or with anything else, please reach out to raph@circlelinkhealth.com.
