May 23, 2022
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implemented a COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) in January 2020. Since then, the PHE has been continually reviewed and renewed. The last official extension of the PHE took place on April 16, 2022, which extended the PHE through mid-July. As reported on Bloomberg.com, according to an individual familiar with the matter and who asked to not be identified, the PHE is expected to be extended yet again, and will not expire in mid-July as it is currently set.
This continuation of the PHE allows for a number of flexibilities, such as allowing the U.S. to grant emergency use authorizations of drugs, vaccines, and other medical countermeasures, as well as to administer those products to millions of people at no out-of-pocket cost to them.
HHS has said that it will provide a 60-day notice to states before any possible termination or expiration of the PHE.
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