- Hospital groups, including the AMA and AHA, asked the HHS for another PHE renewal.
- The organizations asked for an additional 90 days past the July expiration date.
Industry groups that signed the letter believe emergency protections are still necessary.
Hospital groups addressed a letter to the U.S Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Xavier Becerra, pressing to expand the COVID-19 an additional 90 days past the current July expiration date.
The twelve national organizations representing the public health community that signed the letter included:
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- American Hospital Association (AHA)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- American Diabetes Association (ADA)
- American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA)
Becerra extended the PHE until July 16 and promised to give stakeholders a 60-day heads-up if he does not push it back again. That deadline occurred May 16, concerning the industry groups that the PHE will disappear.
Groups warned that the protections granted by the emergency are still needed, especially as case rates are currently rising, more variants could pop up and strain hospital and health systems.
According to the letter, the flexibilities provided under the Public Health Emergency (PHE) have allowed for regulatory waivers and adjustments that have proven vital in this COVID context.
Industry groups stated that this includes but is not limited to:
- Access to vaccines, tests, and treatments that patients need.
- Providers have the flexibility they need, so patients can receive the care they need.
- Affordable coverage options for patients.
According to the letter, the organizations requested that the PHE be maintained until the pandemic has fully passed and the accompanying flexibilities and waivers are no longer needed.
“We urge the Administration to maintain the PHE until we experience an extended period of greater stability and, guided by science and data, can safely unwind the resulting flexibilities,” stated the letter.
On May 11, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) sent a separate letter to Becerra with similar requests to renew the PHE. In the statement, the association explained that this renewal will continue allowing healthcare providers to benefit from telehealth waivers as facilities face workforce shortages.
Stay tuned for this and more industry news through our May 2022 newsletter. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and our Health Prime Blog for ongoing leading industry medical practice articles and policy updates.
Resources
AHA, Others Urge HHS To Continue Public Health Emergency | AHA
Hospital Groups Ask HHS to Expand COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (revcycleintelligence.com)
OSHA ETS comments rjs redline 08112021 (D0961311).DOCX (mgma.com)
