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 and Partner Resources
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Resources
Telehealth
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.