Q-Sights Key Insights – 37
04/12/2021
Here are the key topics you need to know about COVID-19 the past four week. To help you stay abreast of the latest COVID-19 news, guidelines and best practices from Federal, State, National Health Agencies and QHR Health, visit the QHR Health COVID-19 Online Resource Center.
Supply Chain and Pharmacy
- Due to current market conditions and the need to secure supply, HealthTrust has accepted price increases on Gloves – Exam from Medline (#6367) and Tronex (#1992). This increase was reviewed by the Supply Chain Board. On April 1, 2021, the pricing will go into effect for both agreements. Medline’s agreement has been extended through March 31, 2024.
- Please continue to monitor the HealthTrust COVID-19 Resource Center for the latest information on supply chain and pharmacy, treatments, vaccines, instructions, training webinars, and much more.
Finance/Reimbursement/FEMA
- HHS publishes updated Provider Relief Funds Frequently Ask Questions.
- Clarification provided allowing parent organizations to utilize Provider Relief Funds (PRF) of multiple subsidiaries.
- Example: Hospital A has unspent PRF and Hospital B spent the entire PRF received. Hospital A may transfer funds to Hospital B. Hospital B must use funds for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenues.
- HHS clarifies applying PRFs to COVID-19 expenses for cost-reimbursed providers, such as CAHs and RHCs.
- COVID-19 related expenses claimed against provider relief funds must be reduced by Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement of COVID-19 expenses claimed on cost reports.
- This reporting is extremely detrimental to cost-based providers.
- Hospitals subject to PPS are not subject to like reductions since PPS reimbursements are not targeted to specific expenses.
- HHS emphasizes that incremental cost increases due to COVID-19 can be reported as COVID-19 related expenses.
- HHS utilizing a “per visit” methodology that does not align with acute-care hospital reimbursement methodologies.
- Only carrier reimbursements directly aligned to and applicable to COVID-19 type expenditures are considered revenues from other sources and applied to incremental COVID-19 expenses.
- HHS guidance on cost-based providers conflicts with this particular guidance since cost-based reimbursement is specific to costs related to patient care and not COVID-19 specific.
- Clarification provided allowing parent organizations to utilize Provider Relief Funds (PRF) of multiple subsidiaries.
- American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Biden.
- $8.5 billion in additional provider relief funds for rural providers.
- Hospitals, RHCs, home health agencies, hospices and nursing homes will qualify for funds.
- Funds must be used for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenues as defined by HHS.
- Allows for select chain organizations to receive Paycheck Protection Loans.
- Defines employees as 500 per physical location versus utilizing current affiliation rules.
- Still awaiting clarifying regulations and/or updated FAQ defining physical locations.
- $8.5 billion in additional provider relief funds for rural providers.
Visit the QHR Health COVID-19 Online Resource Center site as often as you’d like as we are providing live news feeds from the CDC and CMS to keep all of us updated on the latest news. There is also a document library link located in the bottom right-hand corner of the page where information is being organized by subject categories.
If you need assistance, please reach out to your QHR Health representative.