Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor Bill That Would Make Important Changes to COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund

Action Alert
February 9, 2022

In addition to cosponsoring the bill, please urge your lawmakers to add $25 billion to PRF and extend relief from Medicare cuts as part of upcoming spending package

Please contact your senators today and urge them to cosponsor the Provider Relief Fund Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow hospitals and health systems to access quickly the remaining funds from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and give them more flexibility in how and when the funds can be used.

Specifically, the bill would ensure that the Health Resources and Services Administration distributes the remaining PRF dollars by March 31, 2022. In addition, the bill allows providers more flexibility to use their allocated funds through the remainder of the COVID-19 public health emergency and permits PRF dollars to be used for workplace security and safety measures.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, have introduced the bill. A House companion bill (H.R. 5963) was introduced in November.

It is important that we secure as many cosponsors as possible for the Senate bill to show support for the issue for possible inclusion in any upcoming COVID-19 relief legislation. We have created sample messages that you can customize and send to your senators.

In addition, please see the fact sheet for additional details on why hospitals still need PRF dollars, as well as the flexibility included in this bill to overcome ongoing challenges. You also can use this document in your advocacy efforts.

CONTINUE ADVOCACY EFFORTS ON PRIORITIES FOR MUST-PASS SPENDING PACKAGE

Please continue your advocacy efforts urging Congress to include important priorities to support hospitals and health systems as part of a must-pass package funding the government. These priorities include: adding $25 billion to the PRF; extending Medicare sequester relief; giving hospitals more time to repay accelerated and advance Medicare payments; and providing relief to certain 340B hospitals so they can remain eligible for the program. See last week’s AHA Action Alert for more details and resources you can use as part of your advocacy efforts.