Biden Chooses May 11 as the "End" of the Public Health Emergency. The 90-Day Countdown Starts Now. The problem? They're Ending it, But They Are Not Really Ending It.

In a massive passive/aggressive power grab, Becerra's letter says not much will change, really. And in a delusional move, he calls COVID-19 "preventive medicine".

Welcome to the era of The Eternal Non-Emergency Emergency.

HHS has been busy planning for the federal COVID-19 public health emergency to end and has chosen the date of May 11, 2023. Clearly, however, they don’t want it to really end.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra sent a letter to U.S. governors with the surprise announcement. Becerra wrote:

"Based on current trends regarding COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is planning for this to be the final renewal and for the COVID-19 PHE to end on May 11, 2023."

and

"Rather than 60 days' notice, I am providing 90 days' notice before the COVID-19 PHE ends to give you and your communities ample time to transition."

HHS appended a “fact sheet” to the letter with information on exactly what administrative and regulatory policies and rules will and will not be affected.

Remarkably, in an example of power overreach, FDA's emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 products - including tests and vaccines - and major Medicare telehealth “flexibilities” will remain intact - even after the emergency has ended. Their passive/aggressive overreach will insure that COVID-19 vaccination and favored treatments, such as Paxlovid and Lagevrio, will continue.

Becerra wrote:

“When this transition to traditional health care coverage occurs later this year, many Americans will continue to pay nothing out-of-pocket for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are a preventive health service for most private insurance plans and will be fully covered without a co-pay. Currently, COVID-19 vaccinations are covered under Medicare Part B without cost sharing, and this will continue. Medicaid will continue to cover all COVID-19 vaccinations without a co-pay or cost sharing through September 30, 2024, and will cover ACIP-recommended vaccines for most beneficiaries thereafter.”

Becerra did not inform the governors that COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent transmission, nor that they may cause increased risk of COVID-19 compared to natural immunity.

Some functions will be affected, including specific Medicare and Medicaid waivers, and several “flexibilities” for healthcare providers will no longer be options.

Cost-Sharing Tests Will be Passively Enforced

Becerra’s letter announced that private insurance companies "coverage may continue if plans choose to continue to include ((Cost Sharing). We are encouraging private insurers to continue to provide such coverage going forward."

If it strikes you as odd that the end of an emergency can be planned, and that ending it does not really mean ending it, drop a comment with some one-liner analogies. I’ll share the out Monday or Tuesday:

“Biden’s decision to wait 90 days to end the emergency reminds me of…” ____________________.

Here’s mine: A most unwanted ex-girlfriend coming back to the house because she "accidentally” left something, and never leaving.

I look forward to your responses!