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Program Update

With the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and related rescission of program funds, no further payments will be made to providers under the Provider Relief Fund or the American Rescue Plan Rural Distribution, including no reconsideration payments. Likewise, no additional claims payments will be made under the Uninsured Program or Coverage Assistance Fund. Per the Terms and Conditions of each Program, all reporting and auditing requirements will continue without disruption.

COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund

Return payments update

Starting October 31, 2024, providers can submit return payments via Pay.gov.

To make a repayment, first complete the Repayment Form. Once it is completed, you will be redirected to Pay.gov to make a repayment. Accepted payment forms include bank accounts (ACH), debit, or credit cards. Once reviewed and the payment is submitted, you will receive a confirmation. Please use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox as your default browser.

For instructions on how to complete the Repayment Form, click here (PDF - 126 KB).

If you have any questions about returning payments, please call the Provider Support Line at (866) 569-3522 (for TTY, dial 711).

About the program

HRSA provided claims reimbursement to eligible health care providers at the national Medicare rate for administering Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized COVID-19 vaccines under an Emergency Use Authorization or FDA-licensed COVID-19 vaccines under a Biologics License Application to underinsured individuals.

The CARES Act and its implementing regulations generally required most health plans to cover any qualifying coronavirus preventive service, including recommended COVID-19 vaccines and their administration, without imposing any cost-sharing requirements, such as a copayment for vaccine administration, co-insurance, or deductible.

Since providers administering COVID-19 vaccines were not permitted to bill patients directly to ensure they were fairly compensated for their efforts, the Coverage Assistance Fund (CAF) program was created to cover those costs that typically would have been the patient’s responsibility.

Vaccine administration fees for uninsured individuals were covered through HRSA’s Uninsured Program. The CAF extended the same level of support to providers who administered vaccines to underinsured individuals.

View the list of providers who have received a reimbursement from the HRSA COVID-19 CAF program.

Discontinuation of the program

The HRSA COVID-19 CAF stopped accepting claims for vaccine administration due to a lack of sufficient funds. No vaccine administration claims submitted after April 5, 2022, were processed or adjudicated for payment.

In June 2023, with the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and related rescission of program funds, no additional claims payments will be made under the Uninsured Program or HRSA COVID-19 CAF. Per the Terms and Conditions of each program, all reporting and auditing requirements will continue without disruption.

View Frequently Asked Questions

Customer support

Service staff are available to provide real-time technical support, as well as service and payment support.

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Archived information

For historic information about the CAF, please consult the following archived website: COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund.

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