Situation
Pursuant to section 501(d) of the Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207, the President made an emergency declaration on March 13, 2020 due to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This declaration provides state, territorial, tribal and local government entities such as cities, towns, counties, and authorities, as well as certain non-profit organizations, Public Assistance (PA) funding to help defray the costs associated with the response to COVID-19.
This situation has placed an urgent and sudden demand on the nation’s healthcare system. Healthcare providers are the tip of the spear on the fight against COVID-19 and swift and decisive action has been required. In addition to fulfilling their core lifesaving mission, our healthcare system is encountering mounting costs associated with their response to this pandemic. Many healthcare providers qualify for the PA funding offered by the Federal Government. This is where CRG can help. Our team is comprised of experts in the fields of disaster planning, response, recovery and reimbursement. You keep your team focused on caring for the sick. We will focus on your reimbursement plan.
Eligible Costs
Potentially eligible costs include those found under the FEMA Category B, Emergency Protective Measures expense category. In general, costs associated with preparing for, responding to, or recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic are covered. Examples of potentially reimbursable costs include:
- Costs your organization would not normally incur during normal operations.
- Disinfection of eligible facilities
- Cost of COVID-19 required PPE
- Measures taken to protect patients, staff and the community from COVID-19
- Labor and supply costs for mass care operations
- Temporary medical facilities and/or enhanced capacity
- Specialized medical equipment
- Medical waste disposal
- Emergency medical transport
- Cost of isolating employees exposed to COVID-19 during patient care
- Security and law enforcement needs
- Costs for contractors who are performing emergency protective work
- Overtime payed to employees preparing for and responding to COVID-19
Immediate Action, Cost Capture
To better ensure future reimbursement it is essential to immediately establish Cost Capture protocols to ensure all COVID-19 expenses are designated and coded properly for every COVID-19 related expense. It is essential to note that preparing for, not just responding to, COVID-19 needs is also reimbursable. CRG has experience developing these kinds of capture efforts and will deliver that experience to your team on Day 1.
- Identify expenses incurred that are not part of your normal operations
- Identify supplies, equipment and materials that were purchased as a direct response to COVID-19
- Contact the CRG team and we will guide you through each step
Are Consultant Fees a Qualifying Expense?
Simply put, yes. Because of the strain COVID-19 has put on healthcare and the complexity of federal disaster reimbursement guidelines, applicants such as healthcare providers are encouraged to contract with experienced consultants like CRG. We will provide oversight and advocacy on your behalf through the PA application and reimbursement process.
Procurement Regulations
Due to the pressing nature of a disaster, Federal procurement regulations allow you to enter into emergency contracts. Following the issuance of a temporary emergency contract, your normal procurement process must be followed. This is most often accomplished through an RFP, RFQ or ITN process. The contract is required to meet federal procurement directives.