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02/02/2023
White House announces end to Public Health Emergency effective May 11
The White House issued a statement on Monday announcing a plan to end the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11. The announcement is a response to legislation that has been introduced by House Republicans who planned to hold a hearing this week on their bills which would end the PHE and the COVID National Emergency.
The statement release on Tuesday reads as follows:
The COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) were declared by the Trump Administration in 2020. They are currently set to expire on March 1 and April 11, respectively. At present, the Administration’s plan is to extend the emergency declarations to May 11, and then end both emergencies on that date. This wind-down would align with the Administration’s previous commitments to give at least 60 days’ notice prior to termination of the PHE.
To be clear, continuation of these emergency declarations until May 11 does not impose any restriction at all on individual conduct with regard to COVID-19. They do not impose mask mandates or vaccine mandates. They do not restrict school or business operations. They do not require the use of any medicines or tests in response to cases of COVID-19.
The announcement comes in response to two Republican-led proposals to end the public health emergency and keeps with earlier promises to provide no less than 60 days’ notice for the end of the PHE.
Last month, the Consolidated Appropriations Act allowed state Medicaid departments to begin disenrolling beneficiaries who are no longer eligible from coverage, signaling the unwinding of one of the most consequential PHE-related policies. Other PHE policies that will be phased out include federal support for testing, immunization and treatment. Moving forward, consumers will likely see cost-sharing for COVID testing under Medicare and private insurance. COVID treatment including monoclonal antibodies will fall under typical insurance cost-sharing measures once federal supplies are exhausted.
LeadingAge Ohio reminds members that this statement was directed to the general public and not to healthcare providers, who will continue with infection prevention protocol aligned with the CDC Interim guidelines and with immunization requirements according to CMS QSO-22-07 ALL.
The full announcement released by the White House can be viewed by clicking here.