COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The COVID-19 federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended on May 11, 2023. Many flexibilities and waivers granted during the emergency for hospitals and health systems have now expired. Use the following resources to understand the implications and help ease the transition.

Medicaid Unwinding 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has resumed eligibility renewals for Medical Assistance coverage which were paused during the pandemic. Providers should ensure enrollees have updated their contact information with DHS. Learn more. 

Updates

• DHS extended the Medical Assistance renewal deadline to Aug. 1, 2023, for the 35,500 Minnesotans whose renewal paperwork is overdue for July 1, 2023 coverage. 
• The state legislature passed a bill to cancel unpaid MinnesotaCare premiums and waive premiums from May 2023 through June 2024. Details can be found here. MinnesotaCare renewals are scheduled to begin in October 2023.   

Resources

• MHA webinar with DHS (June 2023, member login required) 
  • Watch the recording  
  • Download the slides  
  • FAQs
• How providers can help with health care program eligibility renewals
• Communications toolkits for patient outreach 
• CMS Resources

MHA and Partner Resources 

• End of the COVID-19 PHE Webinar (April 2023, member login required) 
  • PYA Slides 
  • PYA Checklist   
• MHA letter to policymakers on the end of the PHE (April 2023)  

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Resources  

• CMS Fact Sheet (May 2023)
• Implications for Medicaid and CHIP (May 2023)
• Frequently Asked Questions (May 2023) 
• Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (May 2023)  
• Patient Coverage for COVID-19 Tests (April 2023)
  • En español 
• What Do I Need to Know? (February 2023)  
• Waivers and Flexibilities  
• Current Emergencies  

Telehealth

• Telehealth policy changes
• DEA Extension of Controlled Substance Prescribing through Nov. 11, 2023

Infection Prevention and Control

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated recommendations for universal source control and admission testing in nursing homes. Learn more.

Hospital and Health System COVID-19 Data Reporting  

The CDC will be streamlining hospital COVID-19 reporting requirements following the end of the public health emergency. CMS will now require 44 data elements (instead of 62), and a weekly submission of data (instead of daily). More details will be made available on the National Healthcare Safety Network website.   

Health Care Worker Vaccination Requirements  

On May 1, 2023, the administration announced they are starting the process of ending the COVID-19 vaccine requirement as a Medicare Condition of Participation. This policy change will still need to go through the federal rulemaking process, and more details are forthcoming.