LeadingAge reminds members that any provider who accepted more than $10,000 in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) or American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural funds on or after April 1, 2020, must report on their use of those funds to combat COVID-19.

See the reporting schedule here.

Some providers were unaware of this obligation or did not receive communications from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) outlining the reporting requirements. They are now facing notice of repayment letters from HRSA requesting all funds be returned.

Those who receive repayment letters requesting all or some of their PRF/ARP rural distributions be returned have one final opportunity to appeal the decision called the “decision review” process. Members should read the instructions contained in the repayment letter carefully as all required evidence to support the appeal must be submitted in a single entry. (See this article for additional details on this process.)

Members who have received repayment letters or have questions about the decision review process can reach out to Nicole Fallon for assistance. Reporting continues through September 2025 with the next required PRF reporting period opening January 1, 2024. Additional information on PRF or ARP rural funds can be found here on the LeadingAge website.