XPost: sac.politics, talk.politics.guns   
   From: archangel@sbcglobal.net   
      
   President Joe Biden intends to end the Covid-19 national and public health   
   emergencies on May 11, the White House said Monday. That means that many   
   Americans could have to start paying for Covid-19 testing and treatment   
   after the declarations cease.   
      
   The White House, in a statement of administration policy announcing   
   opposition to two House Republican measures to end the emergencies, said   
   the national emergency and public health emergency authorities declared in   
   response to the pandemic would each be extended one final time to May 11.   
      
   “This wind down would align with the Administration’s previous commitments   
   to give at least 60 days’ notice prior to termination of the (public   
   health emergency),” the statement said.   
      
   Benefits allowed by emergencies will disappear   
   The public health emergency has enabled the government to provide many   
   Americans with Covid-19 tests, treatments and vaccines at no charge, as   
   well as offer enhanced social safety net benefits, to help the nation cope   
   with the pandemic and minimize its impact.   
      
   “People will have to start paying some money for things they didn’t have   
   to pay for during the emergency,” said Jen Kates, senior vice president at   
   the Kaiser Family Foundation. “That’s the main thing people will start to   
   notice.”   
      
   Most Americans covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans   
   have been able to obtain Covid-19 tests and vaccines at no cost during the   
   pandemic. Those covered by Medicare and private insurance have been able   
   to get up to eight at-home tests per month from retailers at no charge.   
   Medicaid also picks up the cost of at-home tests, though coverage can vary   
   by state.   
      
   Those covered by Medicare and Medicaid have also had certain therapeutic   
   treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, fully covered.   
      
   Once the emergency ends, Medicare beneficiaries generally will face out-   
   of-pocket costs for at-home testing and all treatment. However, vaccines   
   will continue to be covered at no cost, as will testing ordered by a   
   health care provider.   
      
   State Medicaid programs will have to continue covering Covid-19 tests   
   ordered by a physician and vaccines at no charge. But enrollees may face   
   out-of-pocket costs for treatments.   
      
   Those with private insurance could face charges for lab tests, even if   
   they are ordered by a provider. Vaccinations will continue to be free for   
   those with private insurance who go to in-network providers, but going to   
   an out-of-network providers could incur charges.   
      
   Covid-19 vaccinations will be free for those with insurance even when the   
   public health emergency ends because of various federal laws, including   
   the Affordable Care Act and pandemic-era measures, the Inflation Reduction   
   Act and a 2020 relief package.   
      
   Americans with private insurance have not been charged for monoclonal   
   antibody treatment since they were prepaid by the federal government,   
   though patients may be charged for the office visit or administration of   
   the treatment. But that is not tied to the public health emergency, and   
   the free treatments will be available until the federal supply is   
   exhausted. The government has already run out of some of the treatments so   
   those with private insurance may already be picking up some of the cost.   
      
   The uninsured had been able to access no-cost testing, treatments and   
   vaccines through a different pandemic relief program. However, the federal   
   funding ran out in the spring of 2022, making it more difficult for those   
   without coverage to obtain free services.   
      
   The federal government has been preparing to shift Covid-19 care to the   
   commercial market since last year, in part because Congress has not   
   authorized additional funding to purchase additional vaccines, treatments   
   and tests.   
      
   Pfizer and Moderna have already announced that the commercial prices of   
   their Covid-19 vaccines will likely be between $82 and $130 per dose –   
   about three to four times what the federal government has paid, according   
   to Kaiser.   
      
   Medicare provisions   
   The public health emergency has also meant additional funds for hospitals,   
   which have been receiving a 20% increase in Medicare’s payment rate for   
   treating Covid-19 patients.   
      
   Also, Medicare Advantage plans have been required to bill enrollees   
   affected by the emergency and receiving care at out-of-network facilities   
   the same as if they were at in-network facilities.   
      
   This will end once the public health emergency expires.   
      
   Less of an impact   
   But several of the most meaningful pandemic enhancements to public   
   assistance programs are no longer tied to the public health emergency.   
   Congress severed the connection in December as part of its fiscal year   
   2023 government funding package.   
      
   Most notably, states will now be able to start processing Medicaid   
   redeterminations and disenrolling residents who no longer qualify,   
   starting April 1. They have 14 months to review the eligibility of their   
   beneficiaries.   
      
   As part of a Covid-19 relief package passed in March 2020, states were   
   barred from kicking people off Medicaid during the public health emergency   
   in exchange for additional federal matching funds. Medicaid enrollment has   
   skyrocketed to a record 90 million people since then, and millions are   
   expected to lose coverage once states began culling the rolls.   
      
   A total of roughly 15 million people could be dropped from Medicaid when   
   the continuous enrollment requirement ends, according to an analysis the   
   Department of Health and Human Services released in August. About 8.2   
   million folks would no longer qualify, but 6.8 million people would be   
   terminated even though they are still eligible, the department estimated.   
      
   Many who are disenrolled from Medicaid, however could qualify for other   
   coverage.   
      
   Food stamp recipients had been receiving a boost during the public health   
   emergency. Congress increased food stamp benefits to the maximum for their   
   family size in a 2020 pandemic relief package.   
      
   The Biden administration expanded the boost in the spring of 2021 so that   
   households already receiving the maximum amount and those who received   
   only a small monthly benefit get a supplement of at least $95 a month.   
      
   This extra assistance will end as of March, though several states have   
   already stopped providing it.   
      
   Congress, however, extended one set of pandemic flexibilities as part of   
   the government funding package.   
      
   More Medicare enrollees are able to get care via telehealth during the   
   public health emergency. The service is no longer limited just to those   
   living in rural areas. They can conduct the telehealth visit at home,   
   rather than having to travel to a health care facility. Plus,   
      
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