COVID-19 public health emergency set to end, creates changes to many benefits
DELMARVA – For the last 3 years, the United States has been under a ‘Public Health Emergency’ caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s something Dr. James Trumble at TidalHealth Peninsula says became a benefit for health care systems. “It really allowed us to mitigate that push and large volume of patients that without it would’ve been overwhelming,” Dr. Trumble said.
The Biden Administration now planning to end the safeguard in May.
Several benefits will be impacted including free COVID-19 tests, vaccines, and treatments, as Apple Discount Drugs Pharmacist Matthew Balish explains. “I saw a stipulation where Pfizer was charging the federal government about $100 a shot. When they flip that over to the private sector, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are probably going to very expensive,” Balish said.
“At one point I saw where the federal government was buying Paxlovid for about $500 a box. That’s a good gauge for where that price might start to fall.”
Balish adds ending the public health emergency could create health disparities. “With adult immunizations, if there’s a high co-pay like $75, $80, $100, or $300 for a vaccine the odds are that the patient won’t get it because they can’t afford the vaccine,” Balish said.
The public health emergency ending could also impact your wallets.
Diakonia’s Food Pantry in Ocean City is only serving 30% of their maximum amount of 300 households through SNAP right now. Coordinator Susan Blaney says that’s because many families were getting the emergency allotment that started at the top of the pandemic.
Now with change on the horizon, she says they’re expecting a surge in need. “When their money drops with food stamps/SNAP and the price of food still up, in order for them to make ends meet they will need the food pantries,” Blaney said.
Dr. Trumble says we’re essentially at a place of herd immunity with the additional protections now in place in comparison to the start of the pandemic. He still advises those with concerns and underlying health conditions to proceed with caution.
Those who qualified for Medicaid under the public health emergency should double check their eligibility when it ends, as those requirements were temporary. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, a total of 15 million people could be dropped from Medicaid.
In terms of the positivity rate locally, Dr. Trumble tells us hospitalizations for COVID-19 at TidalHealth Peninsula have seen a significant drop.
Diakonia tells us if your household is impacted by your SNAP benefits returning to the standard federal allotment and you’re in need of food assistance, you can contact resources like the Maryland Food Bank.
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