Premier joined eight other national hospital and physician organizations in urging CMS to immediately begin making periodic interim payments to healthcare providers, who are facing severe and growing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Providers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic are providing care to the growing population of individuals infected, while also maintaining access to care for those patients who are not infected but require ongoing care for their health conditions.
The American Academy of Family Physicians, America’s Essential Hospitals, American Medical Group Association, America’s Physician Groups, Association of American Medical Colleges, Catholic Health Association of the U.S. and National Rural Health Association joined Premier in sending the letter to the HHS Secretary Azar and CMS Administrator Verma. Raising concerns that many providers will not be able to fully reconcile their periodic payments after the conclusion of the public health emergency, the groups also urged CMS use the funds provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) to allow no or reduced reconciliation.