Financial Relief Available: CARES Act Podcast
While circumstances stemming from the COVID-19 virus are putting immense financial strain on physician practices, a major new source of federal aid is beginning this week. The “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (CARES) Act is the single largest relief package ever passed by Congress and there are a number of provisions that can help physician practices. In a previous update, we provided an overview of the CARES Act. Today, we are supplementing that information via a podcast discussion with Dan Murray, Kansas State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business. This 10-minute discussion provides a succinct outline of what physician practices need to be aware of in considering whether to apply for relief under the CARES Act. This is a time-sensitive federal program, so we hope you will take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with its provisions.
→ Listen to the podcast episode in the player above, or click here to load the mp3 file. You may also subscribe and listen to the KMS podcast via:
→ U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) PPP Loans website
→ Download the SBA Payroll Protection Program Loan Application (pdf)
→ View SBA Payroll Protection Program Fact Sheet for Borrowers (pdf)
→ View information on the SBA $10,000 advance forgivable loan program
Medicare expanding advance payments due to COVID-19
CMS has announced an expansion of its accelerated and advance payment program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The expansion stems from the recently enacted CARES Act. It is intended to ease financial strain faced by physicians participating in Medicare and other providers who face extraordinary challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These payments will be based on historical payments when there is a disruption in claims submission or processing. To qualify for accelerated or advance payments, you must:
- Have billed Medicare for claims within 180 days immediately prior to the date of signature on your request form,
- Not be in bankruptcy,
- Not be under active medical review or program integrity investigation, and
- Not have any outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments.
CMS anticipates that the payments will be issued within seven days of a request. It’s important to remember that these are advance payments and will be offset on future claims. A fact sheet on the accelerated/advance payment process and how to submit a request can be found here: www.cms.gov/files/document/Accelerated-and-Advanced-Payments-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
You may contact KMS Director of Health Care Finance Ruth Clark with any questions:
State of Kansas COVID-19 Jobs and Hiring Portal
The Kansas Department of Commerce has opened a new free website, www.kansasworks.com/coronavirus, which allows employers from essential industries identified by the state to post job announcements for filling urgent hiring needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
KDHE COVID-19 Weekly Update for Local Partners
A weekly update for local partners is available from KDHE at 10 a.m. every Thursday.
- You may join via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/349823849
- Or you may join via telephone by dialing: (312) 626-6799 and enter ID: 349 823 849.
Reporting suspected COVID-19 cases
A reminder from KDHE: COVID-19 is a four-hour reportable condition. If you suspect COVID-19 and conduct a test for it, this must be reported to KDHE via secure e-mail or fax using this form: http://www.kdheks.gov/epi/download/Kansas_Reportable_Disease_Form.pdf.
• • •
If you have questions about this update or other matters, please contact KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo:
