Congressional Leaders Urge HHS to Distribute PHSSEF Funds to Medicaid Providers

Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committees charged with overseeing Medicaid sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar expressing concern that “the delay in disbursing funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF) for Medicaid-dependent providers could result in long term financial hardship for providers who serve some of our most vulnerable populations.” In the letter, Senate Finance Committee leaders Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and House Energy and Commerce leaders Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Greg Walden (R-OR) expressed “serious concerns with the ongoing delay of funding” and asked for both a timeline and the parameters under which funds will be distributed to Medicaid providers.

The legislators ask HHS to answer the following questions: 

1. What is HHS’s timeline to release a dedicated tranche of funds for Medicaid-dependent providers?

2. How does HHS plan to release such funds to Medicaid-dependent providers?

3. What level of funding does HHS plan to dedicate to Medicaid-dependent providers to ensure a meaningful and equitable distribution?

4. What factors contributed to HHS waiting until May 1 to request Medicaid-dependent provider information from states?

5. What factors have contributed to the delays in disbursing funds to Medicaid-dependent providers and how has HHS been working to resolve them as expeditiously as possible to ensure the timely release of funds?

FMI: The letter is available at https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/060320%20Medicaid%20Provider%20Fund%20Letter.pdf