Letter Requesting Relief for Pediatric Specialists and Primary Care Pediatricians from the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency Fund

To: The Honorable Mitch McConnell, The Honorable Chuck Schumer, The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, The Honorable Kevin McCarthy

"Like other physician practices, the practices of pediatric specialists and primary care pediatricians, which are highly Medicaid-oriented, have been severely harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has quickly distributed CARES Act relief funds to health care providers that treat Medicare patients, practices that do not have Medicare claims are still waiting for assistance. In addition, they have not been able to access some other financial relief policies issued by HHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services because of the focus on Medicare. For example, these practices were not eligible for the Medicare Advanced or Accelerated Payment Program.

We, therefore, recommend that Congress take decisive action to direct HHS to prioritize access to the new $75 billion provider relief funds included in the interim COVID relief bill to providers who have not received relief grants, especially those in pediatrics and pediatric subspecialties."

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