The COVID Emergency Declarations Are Ending. What Does That Mean for Urgent Care?

While the general public might think of the federal government’s action to try to contain the COVID-19 pandemic to be a single, monolithic Federal Health Emergency, the facts are much more nuanced, with an array of implications for urgent care (and every distinct healthcare setting). With the exception of certain states that are seeing increases, in general caseloads, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID are down in the United States and the government is starting to order an end to various declarations. For example, two longstanding ones are set to end May 11 of this year: both the national emergency declaration and the public health emergency were declared by President Trump in March 2020 and have been renewed several times by President Biden. Each carries its own stipulations regarding access, costs, and coverage. Understanding their effects is essential for the financial stability of your urgent care practice. KFF issued an in-depth briefing that details exactly what’s going to change and what the net effect could be for healthcare operations.