The Biden Administration recently announced its intent to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations on May 11, 2023, over three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. While there have certainly been significant changes over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there will also be significant changes when the public health emergency ends. For example, coverage and cost-sharing obligations for COVID-related treatment and tests may increase. In addition, many of the waivers relaxing regulatory requirements will end. In that regard, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed a roadmap for the end of the public health emergency that all providers should review in preparation for May 11, 2023.
There are some changes, however, that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic that are here to stay, in some form or fashion, following the end of the public health declarations.