Easing the transition when the COVID-19 public health emergency expires

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With the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 (PHE) set to expire May 11, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a fact sheet to help ease the transition.

“The emergency declarations, legislative actions by Congress, and regulatory actions across government, including by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, allowed for changes to many aspects of health care delivery during the COVID-19 PHE,” notes a statement from CMS. “Health care providers received maximum flexibility to streamline delivery and allow access to care during the PHE. While some of these changes will be permanent or extended due to Congressional action, some waivers and flexibilities will expire, as they were intended to respond to the rapidly evolving pandemic, not to permanently replace standing rules.”