BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in writing a bipartisan letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar regarding changes in reporting requirements, which potentially create financial hardships and uncertainty for hospitals across the country, especially those operating in rural areas.


“The CARES Act established the PRF to reimburse eligible health care providers for health care-related expenses and lost revenues attributable to the coronavirus. Hospitals and other providers received funds and have budgeted accordingly,” the senators wrote. “However, we are still in the midst of a pandemic and providers continue to face uncertainty in terms of loss of revenue from delayed procedures and care as well as increased expenses related to COVID-19.”


Senators Cramer and Blackburn are joined by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Inhofe (R-OK), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Joe Manchin (R-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), David Perdue (R-GA), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).


Click here to read the letter.