The Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources & Services Administration re-opened the Provider Relief Funds portal yesterday for nursing homes through midnight on Dec. 20 after some providers encountered issues with the online system.
In addition, PRF providers who need to amend a submitted report have until Dec. 20 to correct any errors. Those providers are to call the provider support Line at (800) 569-3522 to access their submitted report.
“This re-opening of the portal may present an opportunity for nursing homes to rethink how they apply their expenses and lost revenues before the next reporting period. Infection control expenses are the only eligible use for Nursing Home Infection Control (NHIC) distributions and quality incentive payments issued through PRF,” LeadingAge said.
LeadingAge said that some of its members had faced a dilemma over when to report infection control expenses. Some were concerned that if they reported those expenses in the first reporting period, they would not have enough infection control expenses to be able to submit for the second reporting period. HRSA has clarified that nursing home providers can choose how and when to apply those expenses.
“This flexibility would allow a nursing home to not report any infection control expenses in the first reporting period and apply them instead to the NHIC funds they must report on in the second reporting period,” according to the association.
With the portal re-opening, nursing homes can revise and re-submit their reports to remove their infection control expenses from the first reporting period and wait to report them in the second reporting period, which will begin Jan. 2.
