The Provider Relief Fund was established in the CARES Act to reimburse eligible health care providers for increased expenses or lost revenue attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a condition of receiving funds, providers had to meet various terms and conditions, including a requirement to report certain information back to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Non-compliance with these strict reporting requirements triggers sanctions, including the return of all funds dispersed.  

The HRSA just announced that providers who did not submit the required report by the deadline indicated in their Post-Payment Notice may submit a “Request to Report Late Due to Extenuating Circumstances,” if such circumstances exist. While not guaranteed, providers may submit paperwork to the HRSA requesting an extension of the reporting deadline to avoid non-compliance and the associated consequences. Allowable extenuating circumstances include extreme events, such as severe illness or death of a key staff member, but also internal miscommunications or errors, lack of receipt of reporting communications, and failure to properly submit documentation in the online reporting portal.

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