Rural Relief Fund News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Photo: Cavan Images/Getty Images Hospitals and provider groups, including the American Hospital Association and America s Essential Hospitals, are requesting that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services distribute billions of dollars that remain in a $178 billion COVID-19 relief fund meant for providers. In a letter sent to HHS on Monday, the groups lobbied Secretary Xavier Becerra to release about $24 billion that remain in the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund, and to extend the date by which it must be used. At this point, hospitals and other providers have a deadline of June 30 to use the funds. Rather than using that deadline, the groups suggest using the length of the public health emergency as the measuring stick, and imply that the work of treating COVID-19 patients is ongoing despite the increase in vaccinated adults.

United statesXavier becerraJohns hopkinsNational association for behavioral healthcareRural relief fundUs department of healthHuman servicesCatholic health association of the united statesAmerican hospital associationProvider relief fundCenters for medicareFederation of american hospitalsAssociation of american medical collegesChildren hospital associationMedicaid servicesGetty images