HRSA Releases Fact Sheet on Provider Relief Fund Uses Related to Personnel Costs

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released a fact sheet outlining the various personnel-related costs that can be covered by Provider Relief Fund (PRF) dollars. Specifically, it states that PRF “payments can be used for a wide variety of direct and indirect costs of recruiting and retaining personnel during the pandemic.” The fact sheet provides many examples of acceptable costs, including:

• salaries for new or temporary staff;
• overtime pay;
• incentive pay;
• retention and hiring bonuses;
• child care assistance; and 
• temporary housing.  

The fact sheet also states that the allowable uses “for personnel costs are broad and flexible” and applies to many types of personnel, including not only physicians and nurses, but also respiratory therapists and lab technicians, for example.

REMINDER ON PRF REPORTING DEADLINES

HRSA last month opened the PRF reporting portal for providers to begin reporting to the government that they used federal emergency relief funds for health care-related expenses or lost revenues attributable to COVID-19. Providers that received PRF payments from April 10, 2020, through June 30, 2020, have until Sept. 30, 2021, to submit the required information to HRSA. Hospitals and other health care providers that received PRF money after June 30, 2020, will need to report on the use of the funds at later dates as outlined in HRSA’s June 11 update on PRF requirements. Visit HRSA’s website for the latest updates on the PRF. 

FURTHER QUESTIONS

If you have questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.