Health and Human Services Department detailed Thursday what will change and what will remain the same when the three-year COVID public health emergency ends in May.
Health Secretary Xavier Becerra formally notified the state governors on Thursday that he is renewing the emergency designation for the final time, but that it will expire on May 11. The White House briefed Congress about these plans last week.
These are the immediate changes:
The federal government no longer has the authority to require labs to report COVID test results to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Depending on their plan, individuals with private health insurance may be required to pay for COVID testing, both over-the-counter and in-lab.
Medicare Part B recipients will be required to pay for over-the-counter testing, while lab tests will be covered.
The hospital's ability to expand capacity in response to surges will become less flexible.
Longer-term changes include:
COVID vaccinations and antivirals such as Paxlovid will remain free for anyone, regardless of insurance status, until the existing federal stockpile is depleted.
According to federal budget legislation enacted in December, Medicare's expanded telehealth services will continue in effect through December 2024. Without congressional involvement, however, the war will cease after that.
Separate emergency authorities will continue to grant the Food and Drug Administration the authority to fast approve COVID vaccines, tests, and treatments.
Although COVID vaccines and treatments will continue free for all individuals once the public health emergency has ended, this may alter for uninsured adults when the federal stockpile runs out.
The Biden administration intends to cease purchasing vaccinations and treatments for the public as early as this fall, in part because Congress has not allocated more funds. Vaccines and treatments will be acquired and supplied by the private sector once the federal government withdraws.
This implies that Pfizer and Moderna will sell the injections straight to healthcare providers, and whether or not you pay will depend on your insurance coverage.
Individuals covered by the Affordable Care Act and Medicare will continue to receive free vaccinations. Medicaid recipients will receive the vaccinations at no cost until September 2024, after which state coverage may vary.
When the vaccine stockpile runs out, uninsured adults will likely be required to pay for their vaccinations; however, the White House has stated that arrangements are being developed to assist them.
If Medicaid eligibility conditions are no longer met, states can begin removing individuals from the program as early as April. The HHS intends to launch a special enrollment period so that these individuals may apply for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
