RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—VSP network doctors can now apply for the recently announced VSP Global COVID-19 Patient Care Program, which offers grants to help practices offset expenses and financial hardships due to the pandemic. Practices with Platinum or Gold status in the VSP Global Premier Program are eligible for a one-time cash payment between $1,000 and $10,000, and other network practices are eligible for a one-time cash payment between $500 and $5,000, according to a VSP announcement. Practices can apply for the grants beginning today (Sept. 24) through Nov. 24, 2020.

VSP initially announced its intention to offer this grant program in late August at the same time it announced a delay until 2021 of planned formulary changes, as VMAIL reported.

“Despite the tremendous challenges faced by doctors throughout COVID-19, they have shown an unwavering commitment and spirit of resilience in serving their patients and communities,” VSP Global chief network officer Michelle Skinner said in the announcement. “We developed the COVID-19 Patient Care Program to thank our network doctors for the care they’ve provided to their patients and to further support and reinvest in their practices at this critical time.”

Eligible practices will receive an email communication from VSP inviting them to a streamlined application process that takes less than five minutes to complete, the announcement noted. Cash payments are anticipated to be processed within six weeks of receipt of a qualified application.

For more details about the VSP Global COVID-19 Patient Care Program, doctors can visit www.patientcarevsp.com, contact their VSP representative, or send an email note to premier@vsp.com with questions.

To learn more about additional resources, education, and tools available to network doctors, visit the VSP provider hub located here.