PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXTENDED

Public Health Emergency Extended

The Department of Health and Human Services has again extended the public health emergency that has existed nationwide since January 27, 2020, due to COVID-19. Effective January 11, 2023, the Public Health Emergency is extended until April 11, 2023.

This extension means that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s requirement (which was further clarified in the CARES Act) regarding the coverage of COVID testing without cost sharing is still in effect.

Public Health Emergency vs National Emergency
As of the posting of this update, the COVID-19 national emergency is also still in effect. While the existence of a national public health emergency impacts coverage for the COVID testing mentioned above, the existence of a national emergency impacts the temporary extension of certain deadlines for exercising rights under a group health benefits subject to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, including those related to special enrollee elections, COBRA coverage, and filing claims and appeals. For more information on the temporary extension, please click here.

For more information about these extensions, please visit the links below:

• American Rescue Plan Act COBRA Subsidy FAQs
• Federal Extension of Certain Timeframes Under Group Health Benefit Plans
• EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01
• Treasury and IRS Notice 2020-29