In an effort to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed the Uninsured Program to provide claims reimbursement to health care providers for: (1) testing uninsured individuals for COVID-19; (2) treating uninsured individuals with COVID-19; and (3) administering COVID-19 vaccinations to uninsured individuals. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) oversees and processes the claims for reimbursement on behalf of the HHS. The HRSA began processing claims submitted to the Uninsured Program on February 4, 2020.
On March 15, 2022, the HRSA posted a notice on the Uninsured Program website that the Uninsured Program would stop accepting claims for testing, treatment, and vaccination due to lack of sufficient funds. In its notice, the HRSA specified that the Uninsured Program would stop accepting claims for testing, treatment, and vaccination on two separate dates.
- At 11:59 p.m. on March 22, 2022 – the Uninsured Program will stop accepting claims for testing and treatment.
- At 11:59 p.m. on April 5, 2022 – the Uninsured Program will stop accepting vaccination
Further, the HRSA’s notice provided that any claims submitted by the deadline shall be paid subject to the availability of funds.
For more information on the issues relating to this article, please contact Adrienne Dresevic, Esq. at adresevic@thehlp.com or the Health Law Partners at (248) 996-8510 or (212) 734-0128 or by email at partners@thehlp.com.