The COVID-19 Hospital and Health Provider Loan Forgiveness Act of 2020

2/9/2022, 2:56 AM

The COVID-19 Hospital and Health Provider Loan Forgiveness Act of 2020

This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements for the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The program provides Medicare payments in advance to eligible providers experiencing claims or cash flow disruptions, such as during national emergencies; the program was specifically expanded in response to COVID-19 to encompass more types of providers, subject to certain recoupment and repayment provisions.

The bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to waive recoupment and repayment for providers who meet specified requirements. Among other criteria, providers must not have engaged in surprise billing practices with respect to COVID-19 patients. Providers must still repay any amounts not used for COVID-19 expenses; the bill caps the interest rate on such repayments at 2% upon a demonstration of hardship.

The bill also requires private health insurers to treat out-of-network COVID-19 services as in-network for purposes of payment and cost-sharing.

Congress
116

Number
HR - 7292

Introduced on
2020-06-22

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

6/22/2020

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

The COVID-19 Hospital and Health Provider Loan Forgiveness Act of 2020

This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements for the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The program provides Medicare payments in advance to eligible providers experiencing claims or cash flow disruptions, such as during national emergencies; the program was specifically expanded in response to COVID-19 to encompass more types of providers, subject to certain recoupment and repayment provisions.

The bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to waive recoupment and repayment for providers who meet specified requirements. Among other criteria, providers must not have engaged in surprise billing practices with respect to COVID-19 patients. Providers must still repay any amounts not used for COVID-19 expenses; the bill caps the interest rate on such repayments at 2% upon a demonstration of hardship.

The bill also requires private health insurers to treat out-of-network COVID-19 services as in-network for purposes of payment and cost-sharing.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for forgiveness of certain accelerated and advance payments under parts A and B of the Medicare program.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Cardiovascular and respiratory health•
Emergency medical services and trauma care•
Employee benefits and pensions•
Government lending and loan guarantees•
Government trust funds•
Health care costs and insurance•
Health care coverage and access•
Health facilities and institutions•
Health programs administration and funding•
Hospital care•
Infectious and parasitic diseases•
Medicare

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary10/16/2020

The COVID-19 Hospital and Health Provider Loan Forgiveness Act of 2020

This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements for the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program during the public health emergency relating to...


Latest Action6/22/2020
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the ...