CMS Suspends the Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Part B Suppliers

Effective April 26, 2020, CMS is no longer accepting new applications for Advanced Payment Program loans from Part B suppliers including laboratories and reevaluating all new and pending applications for the Accelerated Payment Program.¹ Since the announcement of the Expanded Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program on March 28, 2020, CMS has processed 45,000 applications and dispersed over $100 billion; $59.6 billion to Part A providers including hospitals and $40.4 billion to Part B providers including doctors and laboratories, non-physician practitioners, and durable medical equipment suppliers. ¹

Other sources of COVID-19 emergency relief include funds for health care providers is available through the Coronavirus AID, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the most recent $484 billion relief bill called the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act signed into law, April 24, 2020.² Details for the program can be found here.

As this pandemic continues to stress our health systems and our economy, it is evident that a “new normal” will continue to emerge. Attenuating the future and further spread of the virus is highly dependent on the pivotal role that our labs play in the molecular and serological testing of SARS-CoV-2.

Sources:

1. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/Accelerated-and-Advanced-Payments-Fact-Sheet.pdf
2. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/summary-paycheck-protection-program-and-health-care-enhancement-act

To learn more about the latest testing, testing supply needs, and payor billing requirements related to COVID- 19, visit our COVID-19 Laboratory Resource Center.

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