The Biden administration has announced it will end the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies May 11 — here's what that means for dentists and dental patients.
Two things to know, according to a Feb. 10 article from the American Dental Association:
1. In March 2021, HHS amended an emergency declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act that allowed dentists and dental students nationwide to vaccinate patients for COVID-19. After May 11, they will no longer be able to administer COVID-19 vaccines unless the state where they are licensed already allows them to do so.
2. In 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act gave an enhanced federal medical assistance percentage to aid states' Medicaid programs. The funding required states to keep people continuously enrolled in Medicaid. Once the public health emergency ends, states will have up to 12 months to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations, which could cause several patients to lose access to coverage.