Provider Relief Fund Application Among COVID-19 Extended Deadlines
By David Doolittle

1.26 interstate billing

Physicians who treat Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients now have until Sept. 13 to apply for federal Provider Relief Funds, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department said today. The original deadline was Aug. 28.

The process to apply for funds – “at least 2 percent of reported gross revenue from patient care,” HHS has said – can be lengthy so physicians should apply as soon as possible. HHS also has clarified that physicians who received a previous Phase 1 – General Distribution payment are eligible to reapply if the first payment did not total approximately 2% of annual revenue from patient care.

In addition, the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) this month announced telemedicine services, including mental health visits, will continued to be paid at the same rate as in-person visits through Oct. 8.

The Texas Medical Association has been tracking various deadlines and program extensions put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health plan waivers.

Below is a list of more upcoming deadlines and extensions:

Aug. 31: If your medical license was set to expire on Feb. 28 or May 31, and you benefited from the Texas Medical Board’s (TMB’s) automatic extension due to COVID-19, your license renewal fees will be due Aug. 31. 

Sept. 1: All physicians who renew their medical licenses after Sept. 1 will be required to take at least two hours of CME that addresses pain management and prescription of opioids. In addition, direct patient care physicians will be required to take one hour of CME on human trafficking.

You also can find the latest news, resources, and government guidance on the coronavirus outbreak by visiting TMA’s COVID-19 Resource Center regularly.

Last Updated On

August 26, 2020

Originally Published On

August 26, 2020

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