
AMA and other health groups lobby to extend public health emergency
Public health emergency set to expire in July without extension
The
Becerra told health care leaders after the first extension that he would give them a 60-day warning if it will not be renewed, and that deadline is May 16.
“We urge the Administration to maintain the PHE until we experience an extended period of greater stability and, guided by science and data, can safely unwind the resulting flexibilities,” the letter states in part.
The biggest challenge for many states and payers will be the loss of the 6.2% increase in federal Medicaid matching funds that came with the caveat that no one could be dropped off the coverage rolls during the PHE. When the
The PHE also removed many
While much of the country has moved on as if the pandemic was over, the CDC shows a rising number of cases in recent weeks, with a rise in hospitalizations, as well.
These rising numbers concern the professional medical groups, who point out that new variants may emerge that strain hospital and health systems.
“We urge the administration to maintain the PHE until we experience an extended period of greater stability and, guided by science and data, can safely unwind the resulting flexibilities,” the letter states.
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