On Jan. 11, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that the department renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration, which will now last up to an additional 90 days. This marks the 12th time that the PHE has been renewed since the first COVID-19 PHE declaration by then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar. The HHS has stated that it will provide states and territories with a 60-day notice prior to the end of the declaration.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) contained language that would extend provisions allowed during the COVID-19 PHE, including certain telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program waiver through December 2024 [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 4]. The law also separated the continuous coverage requirement of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127) from the PHE, allowing states to redetermine Medicaid enrollees' eligibility for the program on April 1.
Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shared a road map for providers on how to prepare for the eventual end to the COVID-19 PHE [refer to Washington Highlights, Aug. 19, 2022].
- Washington Highlights