COVID-19 Provider Relief Funds Distribution by Hospital Characteristics

This study assessed the distribution of Covid Provider Relief Funds (PRFs) to 3,886 private and public general acute care hospitals during 2020-2022. Marginal effects from two-part regression were analyzed. More than 13% of study hospitals did not receive PRFs. Some targeted groups of hospitals, that is, safety-net hospitals and high-impact hospitals (those with high COVID-19 admissions), were the most likely to receive PRFs. Hospitals providing the most uncompensated care, and facilities serving counties with high concentrations of Black or Hispanic populations, were less likely to receive PRFs. Among facilities receiving subsidies, rural, high-impact, safety-net, and financially vulnerable hospitals received more PRFs in relation to their total revenues. Those serving impoverished communities received a larger proportion of PRFs relative to their total revenues, while those in areas with a high concentration of Hispanics received a smaller proportionate subsidy.