On April 12, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared the extension of the public health emergency (PHE). The April 16, 2022 renewal will be in effect for 90 days, or until mid-July. Most policymakers anticipate this will be the final renewal period for the PHE, a likelihood which was supported by last week’s announcement about CMS beginning to end some of the PHE-related waivers. When a decision is made to terminate the declaration or let it expire, HHS has committed to provide states with 60 days’ notice prior to termination.
In addition to Appendix K and 1135 waivers, the PHE is tied to the continuous eligibility requirements that were included in the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA), which allowed states to receive an enhanced federal match for its Medicaid program in exchange for not discharging any individuals during the course of the pandemic, except in circumstances of death or voluntarily ending coverage.