The federal administration failed to inform states or healthcare providers on Friday of any intention to rescind the proclamation, thus the U.S. to Extend COVID Public Health Emergency will continue past January 11.
In order to give stakeholders enough time to prepare for the emergency declaration to be lifted. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has pledged to do so. The public health emergency was extended by HHS in October through January 11th.
According to a Health and Human Services spokeswoman, HHS failed to deliver a 60-day notice on Friday, which was the deadline for informing states and healthcare organizations if the federal government intended to revoke the proclamation on January 11. The emergency will continue for at least another 60 days until mid-January since HHS failed to give notice.
As people gather more indoors where the virus spreads more easily during the winter, public health officials anticipate another Covid uptick. As more immune evasive omicron sub-variants predominate in the US, the future is likewise uncertain.
Becerra told reporters in October that whether the emergency needs to be renewed again moving ahead will depend on how the U.S. performs against Covid this fall and winter.
The U.S. to Extend COVID Public Health Emergency healthcare system has been significantly impacted by the public health emergency, which was originally proclaimed in January 2020 and has since been renewed every 90 days.
Through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the proclamation has significantly increased public health insurance. As of June, there were more than 89 million participants in these programs, a record number. Enrollment grew by 26% during the pandemic.
Once the programs resume normal operations, HHS estimates that up to 15 million people might lose their Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities now have additional operational freedom thanks to the emergency declaration.
Correction: According to HHS, the current public health emergency will last for at least another 60 days, or until mid-January.
