By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Regional COO Wes Hoyt notes that even though the hospital is eligible for some reimbursement for COVID expenses, they haven't been able to apply it yet.
"We qualified, like most other health care facilities, for a lot of the CARES Act funding," Hoyt said. "We received it. The dilemma we're facing right now, is a lot of that, we can't really realize at this stage because some of the rules haven't been finished. We have a tremendous opportunity to add to our bottom line and overcome some of the expenses we had."
The government hasn't opened up the portal for the hospital to apply and qualify for use of those funds.
"There's a tremendous gray area on, yes, this is COVID related, no this isn't COVID related," Hoyt said. "Ultimately, at the end of the day, you're going to have to submit your receipts, per se and have them say, yes, that was legitimate. Without any definitive guidance, you're kind of in a holding pattern."
Hoyt said the money is sitting in the checking account until they know what they can use it for.