End of the Public Health Emergency

President Biden announced that the Declaration of a Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 will end on May 11, 2023. The emergency was initially declared in early 2020, and measures such as social distancing, mask mandates, and vaccine development have significantly reduced cases and deaths. Recent developments, including vaccine rollout and updated CDC guidelines, have led to a decline in COVID-19 cases and fatalities, culminating at the end of the public health emergency. However, the pandemic is not over, and there is still work to fully control virus transmission. 

We have listed some changes that will occur as a result of the end of the Public Health Emergency:

• Over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will no longer be covered under Medicare at the end of the public health emergency. The government still has free COVID tests that you can order here to be delivered to your home. During the pandemic, doctors registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) could prescribe controlled substances to patients they had not seen in person as long as they had a telehealth visit. Check with your doctor to see if the end of this act will affect your healthcare needs. 
• Regular Medicaid renewals will begin April 1, 2023, and AHCCCS coverage will change. To ensure that members do not experience any gap in health care coverage, AHCCCS asks all members to:

1. Make sure you mailing address, phone number, and email address on file is correct in www.healthearizonaplus.gov. Login or call Health-e-Arizona Plus at 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587), Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Review the Updating Your Contact Information flier English / Spanish to learn how to update your contact information in Health-e-Arizona PLUS.
2. Check your mailbox for a letter from AHCCCS about a renewal of coverage.
3. Respond to any requests from AHCCCS for more information so the agency can accurately determine eligibility.