The United States on Wednesday renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency, allowing millions of Americans to keep getting free tests, vaccines and treatments for at least three more months.
The public health emergency was initially declared in January 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic began. It has been renewed each quarter since and was due to expire on April 16. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a statement said it was extending the public health emergency and that it will give states 60 days notice prior to termination or expiration.
When the public health emergency expires, insured people will be subject to co-pays or other costs, while the uninsured will lose easy access to free testing. Millions could lose Medicaid coverage as states reinstate stricter enrollment rules that they had loosened in order to qualify for enhanced federal funding. Read more here.