HHS plans to open up billions in hospital COVID-19 grants in coming weeks

The Biden administration plans to open applications for billions of dollars in grants for hospitals and other health care providers before the end of May after months of delay, according to three people familiar with the plans. Hospitals have pleaded with administration officials to release more funds, which Congress in December directed them to disburse. Currently, providers have only been reimbursed for a portion of their losses through June 2020. The next tranche of grant money will deplete most of the remaining cash in the $178 billion fund to help providers with expenses and losses related to the pandemic.