Since mid-April when HHS announced it would begin disbursing the first $30 billion of the emergency fund created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to providers via direct payment, the AMA has received several questions about how to verify eligibility for payment and who to contact when a provider believes they are eligible but did not receive a payment. HHS partnered with UnitedHealth Group (UHG) to deliver the stimulus payments, and providers should contact UHG’s Provider Relations at 866-569-3522 about eligibility, whether a payment has been issued, and where it was sent. Note, if a provideror practice did not already set up direct deposit through CMS or UHG’s Optum Pay, they will receive a check at a later date. Practices that would like to set up direct deposit now can call the UHG Provider Relations number.
In addition, HHS has opened the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Payment Attestation Portal. Providers who have been allocated a payment from the initial $30 billion general distribution must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agree to the terms and conditions within 30 days of payment. The terms and conditions are listed here.