May 19, 2022
What’s New
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must extend the federal public health emergency (PHE) related to COVID-19 every 90 days to maintain certain health care flexibilities and waivers. The PHE has been in place since January 27, 2020, and has been renewed several times during the pandemic. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recently urged HHS to extend the PHE effective dates from April 16, 2022, through July 15, 2022.
In a letter to the state Governors, the Administration has indicated they will give at least a 60-day notice before the PHE ends. In addition, the Consolidates Appropriations Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-103) provides a 151-day extension to some flexibilities once the federal PHE ends. With this PHE renewal and the additional 151-day extension, ASHA expects certain flexibilities will continue until at least the end of 2022, such as continued access to audiology and speech-language pathology telehealth services.