The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the deadline for physicians to attest to receipt of payments from the Provider Relief Fund and accept the terms and conditions. Physicians will now have 45 days, increased from 30 days, from the date they receive a payment to attest and accept the terms and conditions, or return the funds. 

That means that physicians who received the first round of funding on April 10, 2020, have until May 24, 2020, to file an attestation and accept the terms and conditions.

Physicians who do not return the payment within 45 days of receipt will be viewed as having accepted the terms and conditions. The California Medical Association (CMA) urges all physicians to engage a financial expert or accountant to carefully review all of the terms and conditions prior to the deadline and to carefully document expenditures of any Provider Relief Fund payments, as there will be extensive auditing by the federal government.  

See the CMA Financial Toolkit for Medical Practices for more information on the Provider Relief Fund. 

Visit hhs.gov/providerrelief for more information on the fund.