COVID-19 public health emergency to end May 11

The Biden administration informed Congress it will end the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies May 11.

Ending the emergency declaration could have implications for funding for tests and vaccines as well as impact other pandemic-related policies. Congress has already begun pushing back on efforts to extend programs that had been tied to the pandemic, with House Republicans seeking declarations that would end the public health emergency immediately.

Once the public health emergency expires, the federal government will stop buying COVID-19 vaccines, and people with private insurance could have some out-of-pocket costs for vaccines, especially if they go to an out-of-network provider. Free at-home COVID tests will also come to an end. And hospitals will not get extra payments for treating COVID-19 patients.

Despite the May 11 date for ending the public health emergency, those who became eligible for Medicaid coverage as a result of pandemic-related legislation are still subject to disenrolling from coverage in April.

States that received extra Medicaid funding under a 2020 COVID-19 relief bill had to agree to pause beneficiaries’ eligibility verifications. The continuous enrollment in Medicare was set to end when the public health emergency is over.

Under the $1.65 trillion federal spending bill approved by Congress in December, states can begin disenrolling people from Medicaid in April even if the public health emergency designation remains in place. Many of those who will lose coverage are likely to qualify for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, according to public-health officials and advocates.

As many as 18 million people could lose coverage, according to estimates from the Urban Institute.

States are gearing up for the effort and the Department of Health and Human Services is providing outreach and guidance to assist. The announced it would permit state Affordable Care Act marketplaces to launch a special sign-up window for people who lose Medicaid to help prevent gaps in coverage.