How to Apply for the Medicaid/CHIP Targeted Allocation
Emma Finerfrock
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hosting two, free webinars to help providers apply for the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) targeted allocation. This targeted allocation will only be sent to Medicaid and CHIP providers who did not receive any funds from the “General Allocation” which began paying out on April 10th.
Unlike the first round of the “General Allocation,” providers eligible for this Medicare/CHIP allocation will have to apply for their funds via an enhanced Provider Relief Portal by July 20, 2020. To help providers navigate this portal and the application process, HHS is hosting two free webinars next week, the links to register are below:
HHS plans to distribute an additional $15 billion dollars through this targeted allocation and payments will be at least 2 percent of providers’ reported gross revenue from patient care.
Rural Health Clinics that received Rural Provider Relief Allocations ($103k minimum with distributions beginning May 6, 2020) or Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Testing Allocations (with payments just under $50,000) may still be eligible for this Medicaid and CHIP targeted allocation because those allocations were not a part of the “General Allocation.”
Medicaid and CHIP providers that may be eligible for payment include: pediatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists, dentists, opioid treatment and behavioral health providers, assisted living facilities and other home and community-based services providers
This allocation is aimed at providing relief to the 38% of Medicaid and CHIP providers suffering lost revenues and/or increased expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic that did not receive payment from the General Distribution because they had no Medicare patient volume.