What Comes Next When the COVID Public Health Emergency Ends?

The end of the public health emergency declaration on May 11, 2023 also comes with the end of many unique measures that were initially put into place to help mitigate the pandemic. Here’s what you need to know about what comes next when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends in May 2023: Enhanced federal funding to states to help fund Medicaid programs will end; continuous enrollment in Medicaid will end; those who are no longer deemed eligible will lose their Medicaid coverage; telemedicine prescriptions for controlled substances without in-person evaluation will end unless the DEA specifies an alternate date; increased payments to hospitals taking care of Medicare patients diagnosed with COVID-19 will end; and additionally, the government will no longer be providing free home COVID-19 tests through the mail. Read more in NPHIC’s in depth blog here.