Still image from a Banner Health video of drive-thru COVID-19 specimen collection. Banner says the testing is by appointment only.
Courtesy Banner Health
Arizona health care providers and hospitals received a combined $707 million from the CARES Act, the coronavirus relief package passed by Congress and signed by the president.
The emergency funds from the federal government are supposed to be electronically deposited into the accounts of doctors and hospitals. The amount of money given to each health care provider is based on that provider’s share of Medicare-for-fee service reimbursements in 2019.
It is up to the health care provider to determine how the money is used.
Many hospitals, especially those in rural areas, took financial losses due to Gov. Doug Ducey’s order suspending elective surgeries. Those procedures are considered big money makers for many facilities.
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