Press Release

What the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency means

May 2023

Headshots of the briefing's four speakers and a graphic that reads "Media Briefing"
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The end of the emergency on May 11 has implications for the opioid crisis, Medicaid recipients, and data sharing

The Big Cities Health Coalition held a news conference on May 2 to brief reporters on constructive lessons learned during the COVID-19 public health emergency, which ends on May 11, 2023.

The briefing focused on useful practices that developed because of the public health emergency – practices that public health experts say should extend past May 11. As the federal COVID-19 public health emergency officially ends on May 11, 2023, local health officials warn that a number of policy and regulatory flexibilities will also sunset, profoundly affecting their ability to address a host of ongoing public health crises, including access to life-saving opioid treatment and Medicaid and SNAP coverage. The move also will limit data sharing among health agencies at all levels of government, which could hamper a nimble response to the next emergency or outbreak. On May 11, the emergency waivers that allowed expanded access to care under Medicaid will end at the federal level.

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CDC will no longer have authority to require data sharing from labs, hospitals, or clinics to address public health emergencies.

Additionally, a rule Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had proposed would have meant health providers will no longer be able to dispense medications for opioid use disorder without an in-person interaction, putting thousands of lives at risk. (Since the briefing, DEA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have issued a “Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications” – a temporary rule that extends these telemedicine flexibilities through November 11, 2024.)

This is all against a backdrop of 30 states that have limited public health officials’ authority to act and as we continue to see about 500 Americans die each day from COVID-19 – that is more than twice the number of deaths than that of a typical flu season.

In particular, the presenters recommended that:

  • Congress and DEA extend telehealth flexibilities for opioid use disorder treatment – just as they have already done for other areas of telehealth – and end requirements for in-person visits to opioid treatment centers;
  • Congress grant data authority to CDC; and
  • States take particular care in their process of re-enrolling Medicaid recipients.

Presenters

  • Chrissie Juliano, MPP, Executive Director, Big Cities Health Coalition
  • Phil Huang, MD, MPH, Director/Health Authority, Dallas County Health and Human Services
  • Michelle Taylor, MD, DrPH, MPA, Director/Health Authority, Shelby County Health Department
  • Hillary Kunins, MD, MPH, Director of Behavioral Health Services and Mental Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health

Watch excerpts

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