White House announces it will end COVID national emergency in May

The Biden administration announced this week it will end the national state of emergency over COVID-19 in May, ending almost three years of extensive nationwide measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The statement was released ahead of a House vote to end the COVID state of emergency immediately this week. The termination of the COVID-19 public health emergency and national health emergency will officially end several benefits allowed under the current state of emergency declarations, including free COVID testing and treatment for some Americans whose health insurance does not cover them. COVID vaccines, however, will remain free of charge after the state of emergency ends.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities will no longer receive the additional funding they have been getting throughout the duration of the pandemic under the state of emergency, and Medicare Advantage plan holders will no longer be billed for out-of-network COVID-related costs as though they were in-network.

The White House extended the state of emergency until May 11, to allow the promised 60-day notice before ending the two emergencies. The statement from the Biden administration claims that ending the emergencies immediately and abruptly, as some Republicans are calling for, would result in “wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system,” and would end Title 42 and create a chaotic scene at the southern border. The 60 days’ notice allows federal agencies time to prepare for the end of the pandemic-era measure.