The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reviewed applications for phase 3 of the Provider Relief Fund payments and has announced that distribution of another $24 billion from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund is underway. The program is expected to distribute funds to more than 70,000 providers starting Dec. 16, 2020, and continuing throughout January 2021.

Providers were invited to apply for these phase 3 funds by Nov. 6, 2020. Therefore, only those who applied and were approved for additional funding will be receiving a payment. The payments equal approximately 88% of each applicant’s total lost revenue and increased costs for the first half of 2020 as compared to last year.

Another 35,000 provider applicants will not be receiving a payment because they have already received 88% of their lost revenue and increased expenses from previous Provider Relief Fund distributions. In California, 8,436 applicants will receive a total of $2.1 billion.

If you applied for but do not receive a payment, contact HHS for information on the status of your application: Provider Support Line (866) 569-3522 (for TTY, dial 711). When calling, providers should have ready:

•  The last four digits of the recipient’s or applicant’s Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• The name of the recipient or applicant as it appears on the most recent tax filing
• The mailing address for the recipient or applicant as it appears on the most recent tax filing
• The application number (begins with either “DS” or “CR”) if application was submitted through the Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal

For additional questions, contact the California Medical Association Center for Economic Services at (888) 401-5911 or economicservices@cmadocs.org.