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Washington, D.C. – Congressmen Tom Emmer (MN-06), Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) and Pete Stauber (MN-08) today led members of the Minnesota congressional delegation in a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar expressing concern over the recently released Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting requirements, which change how health care providers document lost revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. HHS’s new guidelines require providers to use net operating income to calculate lost revenue – therefore increasing calculation complexity and potentially forcing hospitals to send much needed grant money back to the government. "The COVID-19 pandemic has strained our health care providers to unprecedented levels and legislation such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to offer relief in part by appropriating $100 billion to the PRF. While the PRF has distributed crucial relief to health care providers across the United States, the Department cannot continue to regularly change reporting requirements for providers and potentially make them return the funds used to treat patients and address this virus. We need our health care providers’ undivided attention focused on treating patients instead of spending time and resources on additional reporting requirements,” the lawmakers wrote.
"While facing unprecedented economic challenges, our health care providers remain on the frontlines of confronting COVID-19. We must ensure these heroes do not suffer unnecessary burdens as a result of regulatory actions. Changing the terms of aid to our health care sector could prove devastating to a group of selfless individuals we need now more than ever. I am proud to join my Minnesota colleagues in urging Secretary Azar and the Department of Health and Human Services to reconsider the reporting guidelines and to continue providing relief for those who need it most.” said Emmer. "Medical providers, especially in our rural communities, have done admirable work to combat the spread of COVID-19, continue providing high-quality care and help drive local economies, despite dwindling resources and strenuous circumstances. These new reporting requirements from HHS are onerous and should be adjusted to better accommodate health care providers as they continue navigating the challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said Hagedorn. "During this crisis, Minnesota’s rural healthcare providers have been placed under undue stress as they work tirelessly to provide Minnesotans with quality care. While the Provider Relief Fund has afforded critical relief to these rural providers, new reporting requirements could require them to return much-needed funds. We must be empowering the healthcare providers as they continue to fight the virus, so I am proud to join Congressman Emmer and Congressman Hagedorn in calling on HHS Secretary Azar to rescind this burdensome and unnecessary reporting requirement,” said Stauber.
Read the full letter here.
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