Mississippi Healthcare Providers PPE and Testing Reimbursement Program
The State of Mississippi has created a new program designed to provide CARES Act funds to reimburse eligible recipients for the purchase of “personal protective equipment” and providing COVID-19 testing for employees and staff for protection against COVID-19 from current patients.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Eligible recipients for this program are defined in the legislation and include:
- “Ambulatory surgical centers” are those entities as defined by and licensed by MSDH
- “Assisted living facilities” are those entities as defined by and licensed by the MSDH
- “Alzheimer’s/dementia care units” are those entities as defined by and licensed by MSDH
- “Intermediate care facilities” for individuals with intellectual disabilities” as defined by and licensed by MSDH
- "Permitted ground ambulances” as defined by and licensed or permitted by MSDH
- “Nursing home facilities” as defined by and licensed by MDHS
- "The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency” (“MORA”), which is a non-profit organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi with a Business Identification Number of 590754 with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office and which is the federally designated organ procurement organization for most of the State of Mississippi
- “Independent dentists” are those individuals as defined by and licensed by MBDE who are actively providing care to patients, own a share of his or her dental practice, have key decision-making rights for his or her practice, and are not employed by a hospital or an organization associated with a hospital
- “Independent physicians” are those individuals as defined by and licensed by MBML, including allopaths, osteopaths, and podiatrists, who are actively providing care to patients, own a share of his or her medical practice, have key decision-making rights for his or her practice, and are not employed by a hospital or an organization associated with a hospital
- “Nurse practitioners” are those individuals as defined by and licensed by MBN who are not employed by a hospital and have an “independent practice,” that is one where the nurse practitioner is not employed by a Practice Group and/or is not operating within a Practice Group
- “Independent optometrists” are those individuals as defined by and licensed by MSBO and who are actively providing care to patients, own a share of his or her optometrist practice, have key decision-making rights for his or her practice, and are not employed by a hospital or an organization associated with a hospital.
HOW TO APPLY?
Businesses apply through the Mississippi Development Authority’s online grant portal using the below links. First, businesses will qualify and complete a grant agreement with MDA. After the grant agreement has been approved and signed, businesses would submit reimbursements for eligible expenses that has been incurred since March 1st and any additional eligible expenses moving forward until December 30, 2020 until grant award amount has been exhausted.
WHAT EXPENSES QUALIFY?
“Eligible Expense” means a cost incurred by a recipient/applicant beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 30, 2020, for the following items only: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which include the following:
- Respirators (N95 or higher)
- Facemasks
- Goggles
- Face shields
- Protective eyewear without gaps between glasses and face
- Gloves
- Gowns
“COVID-19 testing” means those medical tests administered for staff and employees of the eligible recipient that are recommended by the CDC in its guidance entitled “Testing for COVID-19” (Updated June 24, 2020), which include the following:
- Viral tests that indicate an individual currently is infected with the COVID-19 virus
- Antibody tests that indicate an individual has had a past infection of COVID-19
“COVID-19 screenings” mean those tests of individuals who are attempting to enter the facilities, clinics or vehicles of eligible recipients that are designed to detect possible COVID-19 infection and protect the eligible recipient and his/her/its staff and employees from exposure to COVID-19.
How could a group practice of multiple independent dentists or independent physicians apply for the program?
When a group practice files the application, it will list up to 10 dentists or physicians as jointly filing the grant agreement. (10 is the maximum number allowed by the legislation). Subsequently, any reimbursement requests associated with the grant agreement are, in essence, filed jointly by the same 10 dentists/physicians.
Applicants who have questions can call 833-456-4560.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PPE AND TESTING REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PPE AND TESTING REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM RULES [PDF LINK]