Federal Public Health Emergency Extended Again, Through January 13, 2022
October 28, 2021
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended the federal public health emergency (PHE) through January 13, 2022. The PHE, which was set to expire in October 2021, has been in place since January 27, 2020, and has been renewed several times in the past 21 months.
With the extension, numerous flexibilities and waivers remain in effect, including Medicare telehealth coverage of audiology and speech-language pathology services and relaxed Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements.
Clinicians should be aware that states may have different dates for ending local PHEs. This means that temporary state licensing, Medicaid, commercial insurance, and local education agency expansions and flexibilities could end at different times than the federal PHE.
ASHA will continue to monitor the status of the PHE and advocate for a continuation as the current declaration nears its next expiration date in January, if circumstances warrant an additional extension.
Questions?
ASHA provides information regarding coverage of telepractice services provided by audiologists and SLPs. Contact reimbursement@asha.org for additional information.
