Providers accepting the Provider Relief Fund payment should submit a claim to the patient’s health insurer for their services. Most health insurers have publicly stated their commitment to reimbursing out-of-network providers that treat health plan members for COVID-19-related care at the insurer’s prevailing in-network rate. If the health insurer is not willing to do so, the out-of-network provider may seek to collect from the patient out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles, copayments, or balance billing, in an amount that is no greater than what the patient would have otherwise been required to pay if the care had been provided by an in-network provider. Generally, HRSA expects that it would be highly unusual for providers to collect from an out-of-network presumptive or actual COVID-19 patient an amount that exceeds the individual plan out-of-pocket maximum for the calendar year.
(Updated 4/6/2022)