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President Biden signed a resolution which ended the COVID-19 national emergency as of April 10, 2023. Both the national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) were supposed to end May 11, 2023. The PHE will still end in May.
When the PHE ends, health plans will no longer be required to cover COVID-19 diagnostic tests and related services without cost sharing.
Impacted Deadlines
Some deadlines had been extended by disregarding an “outbreak period” from March 1 2020, until 60 days after the end of the national emergency. The outbreak period will now end on June 9, 2023. After this date, health plans can return to their nonextended deadlines.
Key deadlines extended during the outbreak period include time frames for HIPAA, COBRA, claims procedures, and external review process.
Resources
Prior guidance was issued on March 29, 2023, addressing how certain health plan requirements will change when the emergency period ends.
If changes are made to a plan or coverage after the end of the PHE or national emergency, plan sponsors or employers must clearly communicate these changes, including any limitations of benefits to participants and beneficiaries before they take effect. Download the bulletin for more details.
Additional Resource
Department of Labor’s Response to COVID-19
This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state, and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.
National Insurance Services is not a law firm and no opinion, suggestion, or recommendation of the firm or its employees shall constitute legal advice. Readers are advised to consult with their own attorney for a determination of their legal rights, responsibilities and liabilities, including the interpretation of any statute or regulation, or its application to the readers’ business activities.
