The public health emergency, which was declared when the COVID-19 epidemic swept the United States three years ago, will officially end on May 11, the White House announced Monday.
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Two emergency declarations had been issued in the country: one titled ‘national’ and one titled ‘public health’.
The end of these bylaws, which took effect in January 2020 under the presidency of Donald Trump, will result in the end of federal subsidies for COVID-19 treatments, health insurance, and other government assistance related to the pandemic.
In fact, some federal funding to support Americans during the pandemic has already dried up due to decisions by Congress.
The remaining funds are a matter of bitter political discussions.
Republican lawmakers who control the House of Representatives are preparing bills aimed at ending the statutes earlier: on March 1 for the national emergency and April 11 for the public health emergency.
A hasty end to the state of emergency would have “very significant consequences for our nation’s health care system and government,” including “chaos and insecurity in the health care system,” the White House warned in a press release.
“Hospitals and nursing homes that have become accustomed to the flexibilities allowed by these states of emergency will descend into chaos without the need for the time to retrain their officers and set up a new billing system,” the statement said.
Another reason for a 60-day notice period is to give the government time to prepare for the impact of the lifting of the emergency measures on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, the release said.
A rule currently known as “Title 42,” which allows for the immediate deportation of illegal aliens intercepted at the border, including potential asylum seekers, is legal only because of the public health emergency. Ending this status “hasty” will “result in a significant additional influx of migrants. »
The White House says it wants to end Title 42 and replace it with another legal mechanism to control the flow of would-be immigrants, but says it will take time to do so.