Three years after the federal government announced the first public health emergency due to COVID-19, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has again extended the PHE, per Healthcare Finance.
Becerra announced the extension Wednesday morning. This is the 12th time HHS has extended the public health emergency.
On October 13, 2022 Becerra issued another 90-day declaration.
Former HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the first declaration on January 31, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning to ramp up in the United States. Azar renewed the PHE on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021.
Becerra continued those renewals on April 15, 2021, July 19, 2021 and October 15, 2021, and on January 14, April 12, July 15 and October 13, 2022.
HHS has promised to give providers 60 days’ notice before ending the public health emergency.
