The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is reevaluating the amounts that will be paid under its Accelerated Payment Program and suspending its Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers, effective immediately. CMS made payments of over $100 billion to healthcare providers and suppliers through these programs and in light of the $175 billion recently appropriated for healthcare provider relief payments.
CMS said it expanded these temporary loan programs in March to ensure providers and suppliers had the resources needed to combat the beginning stages of COVID-19. Funding will continue to be available to hospitals and other healthcare providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response primarily from the Provider Relief Fund, which made direct payments to Medicare providers and suppliers through the US Department of Health and Human Services on April 10.
The Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs are typically used to give providers up to three months of emergency funding and address cash flow issues for providers and suppliers when there is disruption in claims submission or claims processing, including during a public health emergency.
For an updated fact sheet on the Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs, visit www.cms.gov/files/document/Accelerated-and-Advanced-Payments-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
