Update on Provider Relief and Efforts for Targeted Phase IV Fund

Argentum met with officials of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) this week to discuss matters related to the Provider Relief Fund for Phase IV regular consideration and Phase III reconsiderations.

Bottom line, Phase IV payment determinations and Phase III reconsiderations will likely be finalized in the very near future and at the latest by mid-September. The new deadline for Phase IV reconsiderations will be at least 45 days from the time HRSA completes all determinations for Phase IV and anyone can file a reconsideration regardless of when they received their determination for Phase IV.

Phase IV
Phase IV is down to a final few applications under review (and if approved subsequent payment) and should be complete in the very near future with a strong likelihood of wrapping up before mid-September. With so few applications remaining under review, if you have not received notice of the payment determination of your Phase IV application, please contact Provider Support at 966-569-3522 for status of your Phase IV application.

Phase IV Reconsideration
The time to file any and all Phase IV reconsideration requests will be 45 days from the time HRSA completes the final Phase IV determination. What this means is that anyone is eligible to file a reconsideration for Phase IV if you believe an error was made by the government in your determination resulting in a denial or underpayment. The biggest change is that those applicants who filed a reconsideration earlier this year will be considered along with those that file their reconsiderations at the latest allowable time (currently 45 days from the date HRSA completes Phase IV application determinations). This means all reconsiderations will be considered at the same time and no preference extended to those that filed earlier. This also means that no matter when you received a determination, you will have an opportunity to file a reconsideration up to 45 days from the time HRSA completes final Phase IV determinations. This will also likely mean that the Phase IV reconsideration process will be completed some time in 2023. We will provide more details regarding deadlines when available.

Phase III Reconsiderations
Scheduled to be finalized by no later than mid-September according to HRSA.

Status of Phase IV and/or Phase III Reconsideration Determinations
If you have not received notice of the status of your Phase IV and/or Phase III reconsideration applications, please contact Provider Support at 866-569-3522.

Optum Pay Account Issues Related to Payment
Please contact Optum Support at 877-620-6194 with questions or issues with creating an Optum Pay account, required for payments of $100,000 or higher, especially if you were determined to receive a payment and payment has not occurred.

Please contact Paul Williams at pwilliams@argentum.org with any questions.