On January 11, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra formally renewed the federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for another 90 days. The PHE, which originally went into effect on January 31, 2020, provides important flexibilities for healthcare providers and Medicare beneficiaries and waives key reporting requirements. Some important telehealth flexibilities, however, have been extended through December 31, 2024, as recently discussed here.
HHS Secretary Becerra has previously stated that providers and states will receive at least 60 days’ notice of the end of the PHE. Therefore, silence from HHS in February would mean that a further extension beyond April is expected.
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