COVID-19 PHE Renewed
On October 13, 2022, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the renewal of the public health emergency (PHE) declared due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The PHE was originally declared on January 31, 2020; and renewed on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, January 7, 2021, April 15, 2021, July 19, 2021, October 15, 2021, January 14, 2022, April 12, 2022 and July 15, 2022. These extensions were in place for 90 days.
With this latest extension, the PHE expiration date is now January 13, 2023. The extension of the PHE allows for the waivers and flexibilities implemented by CMS, including telehealth services and other provisions related to the April 2020 Interim Final Rule. The HHS promised to give providers 60 days’ notice before ending the PHE. Once the PHE ends, the waivers and flexibilities will expire 151 days afterwards. At this time, it is not known whether the PHE will be extended beyond early 2023.
