The COVID-19 public health emergency and national emergency are expected to end on May 11, 2023. This means that nurses can expect that there will be changes to patient health insurance coverage. According to the U.S. Dept of Labor, which is working to prepare employers and the public, there are 5 changes to health care coverage that should be expected starting May 12, 2023:
- COVID-19 diagnostic testing: Although some health plans may opt to continue free testing, they will no longer be required to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing (including over-the-counter tests) at no cost to patients.
- COVID-19 vaccinations: Health plans may impose cost sharing to patients if they get a vaccine from a provider that’s not in their health plan’s network.
- Deadlines for key health benefit decisions: During the COVID-19 national emergency, many health plans were required to give more time to consumers to make key decisions about health coverage. These timeframes will likely change.
- Telehealth: During the COVID-19 public health emergency, many health plans expanded coverage of telehealth services. Check with insurance plans to see if any of these benefits are changing.
- Medicaid and CHIP coverage: Persons currently covered through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), may need to take steps to find out if their coverage can continue. They may need assistance with paperwork to continue or if no longer eligible referred to the insurance marketplace at https://www.healthcare.gov/ for insurance options.
Read the U.S. Dept of Labor Post
The Nurses Respond Now Priority Training provides individual nurses and healthcare organizations an effective way to meet the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Recommendation #8: Preparing Nurses to Respond to Disasters and Public Health Emergencies.