America's Benefit Specialist April 2023

HOW THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WILL AFFECT HEALTH INSURANCE

By Scott M. Stevens, RHU Dodge Partners Insurance Omaha, Nebraska sstevens@dodgepartners.com

The federal government has announced the current COVID-19 related Public Health Emergency and National Emergency periods will expire on May 11. These periods were officially opened and recognized by the government effec tive January 27, 2020, and were intended to make it easier for the nation to deal with the pandemic. Included among the many affected areas of our econo my was the loosening of a number of health insurance and employee benefits-related coverages, timelines and dead lines. Employers need to prepare for the resumption of the

guidance that was in place and changed during the national state of emergency. PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY During the PHE, group health plans are required to cover the cost of COVID-19 tests and testing-related services without cost-sharing (i.e., copay, deductible, coinsurance), prior autho rization or other medical management requirements. This requirement was later expanded to include over-the-counter home COVID-19 test kits. Although the PHE period was slated to expire April 11, with the government’s renewal of this period to now terminate on May 11 (prior to the end of the original 90-day period), employer plans will no longer be required to cover such tests and services without cost-sharing. NATIONAL EMERGENCY Several employee benefit plan-related deadlines were sus pended for up to one year as long as the national emergency was in place. Now that the national emergency declaration

SUSPENDED TIMEFRAMES WILL BEGIN TO RUN AGAIN AT PRE-PANDEMIC RATES EFFECTIVE JULY 11.

8 ABS | benefitspecialistmagazine.com