January 12, 2023
Public Health/Prevention
  • The Biden administration renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for another 90 days. The renewal comes amid the emergence of the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant and a spike in new cases. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has pledged HHS would give states and health providers 60 days’ notice before the emergency expires or is terminated. The extension will give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services time to determine what flexibilities should become permanent, though the year-end omnibus package enabled states to start Medicaid eligibility redeterminations April 1. (Articles here, here, here, and here)