At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became clear that hospitals and other providers were losing revenue due to a sudden drop in admissions, procedures, and visits, CMS accelerated Medicare payments to minimize the effects of revenue shortfalls. The Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs, which existed before the pandemic, are designed to help hospitals facing cash flow disruptions during an emergency. These are loans that must be paid back, with timelines and terms for repayment.
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