If Texas does not prepare for PHE unwinding in a manner that addresses the many challenges families and the HHSC eligibility system will face, the chaos could lead to a huge spike in eligible children and postpartum moms losing their insurance at a time when families will already be struggling to pay for food. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! On October 13, the federal government extended the COVID-19 PHE, , as has happened every three months since January 2020. Congress banned states from kicking people off the program for the duration of the public health emergency. The declaration has dramatically expanded. The renewal process (sometimes called redetermination or RRR) for Health First Colorado and CHP+ members occurs annually. Some members will be automatically renewed based on information we have for them from other data sources. The Department will send a renewal packet either in the mail or to their email directing them to their PEAK inbox several weeks before their renewal due date. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 117-328), extends the authority for audiologists and speech-language pathologists to provide telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries and continues waivers of geographic and originating site restrictions through December 31, 2024. V,wfBt3 [ho California's adherence to this continuous coverage requirement has kept millions from being disenrolled from the state Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, thereby allowing Californians to maintain stable health coverage during a turbulent time. The Biden Administration notified Congress that it will end the PHE on May 11, 2023. Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)/Rural Health Clinic (RHC) can serve as a distant site provider for non-behavioral/mental telehealth services. PHEP strengthens the ability of health agencies and partner organizations by facilitating: Community Preparedness Community Recovery Emergency Operations Coordination Emergency Public Information and Warning Get expert help signing up for health coverage by working with a certified assister or broker, online or in person. Read CNBC's latest global health coverage: President Joe Biden said the pandemic was over in September, a period when infections, hospitalizations and deaths were all declining. 117-103), coverage of telepractice services during the COVID-19 pandemic, What to Expect at the End of the Public Health Emergency, Maintaining Compliance with State, Federal, and Payer Laws and Requirements. Staff shortages will likely continue to be a challenge. All rights reserved. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must renew the federal public health emergency (PHE) related to COVID-19 every 90 days to maintain certain health care flexibilities and waivers. Mayor's Order 2022-043: Extension of Public Emergency for COVID-19 Through April 16, 2022 Mayor's Order 2022-029: Adjustments to Winter Action Plan of Mitigation Measures for COVID-19 Mayor's Order 2022-019: Extension of Limited Public Health Emergency Related to Healthcare Capacity Mayor's Order 2022-018: Extension of Indoor Mask Requirements When the Biden administration renews the Covid public health emergency this week, it will mark the 11th time since the coronavirus arrived that the government declared its presence a national crisis. On Feb. 18, President Joe Biden again formally extended the COVID-19 National Emergency, which was set to expire on March 1, 2022.This most recent extension means that the deadlines listed below . When Utah resumed renewals in its CHIP program, it disenrolled an unprecedented 41% of children, the vast majority around 89% because of a procedural issue, not because the state determined they were ineligible. Biden's recent extension of the status until January 11, 2023, means that Americans will find out on November 11 if its . 12/28/2021. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must renew the federal public health emergency (PHE) related to COVID-19 every 90 days to maintain certain health care flexibilities and waivers. ", NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERTS SLAM MEDIA, SCIENTISTS FOR PREMATURELY SHUTTING DOWN COVID-19 ORIGINS DISCUSSION, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington on July 13, 2020. Federal legislation continues to expand and extend telehealth services for rural health, behavioral health, and telehealth access options. ", NYC NURSES ON STRIKE FOR THIRD DAY DECRY ABYSMAL EMERGENCY ROOMS: 'NO MORE PATIENTS IN HALLWAYS', HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2022. for Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The additional benefits and federal funds are available only during the federally declared, (PHE). With each PHE extension, numerous flexibilities and waivers remain in effect, including Medicare telehealth coverage of audiology and speech-language pathology services and relaxed Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements. All rights reserved. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The Biden Administration announced on January 30 that the COVID-19 national public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023. Behavioral/mental telehealth services can be delivered using audio-only communication platforms. US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra officially. Without adequate preparation, crucial state systems could collapse under strain, not unlike what. ASHA's website provides more information on what to expect at the end of the federal PHE. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Public Health Emergency Preparedness protects the lives of people in Maine from natural or man-made public health threats or emergencies. Congress passed legislation that ensured anyone enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) was guaranteed to keep their health coverage during the PHE. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may, under section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act determine that: a) a disease or disorder presents a public health emergency; or b) that a public health emergency, including significant outbreaks of infectious disease or bioterrorist attacks, otherwise exists. On October 13, the federal government extended the COVID-19 PHE declaration, as has happened every three months since January 2020. National projections show 64% of Latinos and 40% of Black non-Latinos who will lose coverage at the end of the PHE will still qualify for Medicaid, compared to only 17% of White non-Latinos. State leaders and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must carefully prepare now and address significant eligibility staff shortages to help prevent a tidal wave of eligible Texans primarily children from losing Medicaid coverage starting as early as February 2023. Medicare patients can receive telehealth services authorized in the. Medicaid disenrollments would resume in February, the same month SNAP benefits would be cut. But HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told reporters during a call in October what the virus does this winter would determine whether or not the emergency needs to continue. In regard to the license types specified above only, any earlier dates of license expiration . The PHE is currently extended to July 15, 2022. State COVID-19 metrics will be re-evaluated at the time of expiration to determine if an extension will be needed. Advocates, including Every Texan, have made recommendations to HHSC with. 528 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<3C6513E815B48242A21C94DD62711375>]/Index[506 36]/Info 505 0 R/Length 108/Prev 319214/Root 507 0 R/Size 542/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream This is a big task under normal circumstances, but HHSC will unwind in a much more challenging context: Recent experiences in Utah serve as a cautionary tale. Other members will need to go through the renewal process and take action. Scientists at Columbia University, in a study published in December, found that the BQ and XBB families of omicron subvariants pose the biggest threat to the Covid vaccines and could cause a surge of breakthrough infections. [CDATA[/* >