Providers Now Eligible to Receive Medicare Reimbursement for COVID-19 Care Provided to the Uninsured

Beginning on April 27, 2020, health care providers can begin applying to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") to receive Medicare reimbursement for COVID-related care provided to uninsured persons. HHS allocated a portion of the $100 billion Provider Relief Fund to reimburse healthcare providers for COVID-related treatment of the uninsured. According to HHS, any health care provider who has provided treatment for uninsured COVID-19 patients on or after February 4, 2020, can request claims reimbursement through the program and will be reimbursed at Medicare rates, subject to available funding. In order to receive reimbursement under the program, providers must enroll in the program at coviduninsuredclaim.hrsa.gov. Once enrolled, providers will be able to check patient eligibility and benefits, submit patient information, submit claims, and receive payment via direct deposit. Providers that receive reimbursement under the program will be prohibited from balance billing patients for COVID-related treatment.