The Biden administration on Wednesday renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency, just ahead of its April 16 expiration date, providing an extension of pandemic policies and flexibilities for the health care industry.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the emergency for 90 days, carrying it to mid July. Becerra has previously pledged to give at least 60 days’ notice before ending the emergency, first declared in January 2020 during the Donald Trump administration.
The emergency has made it easier for 13 million to 16 million more Americans to access health insurance coverage under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, expands access to telehealth services, makes it easier to sign up for health insurance, and allows agencies to fast-track authorization for COVID-19 treatments, tests and vaccines at the Food and Drug Administration, among other flexibilities.
