Maryland Lawmakers Urge HHS to Extend Public Health Emergency Declaration

Maryland’s congressional delegation wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services requesting an extension of a national public health emergency. The current COVID-19 emergency declaration is set to expire on July 25.

Health and Human Services Spokesperson Michael Caputo previously tweeted that the department planned on renewing the emergency, but the department has yet to formalize the extension with less than a week before its expiration. The extension of the public health emergency has significant ramifications nationwide and in the state of Maryland. Some of the health benefits include a 20% Medicare add-on payment for coronavirus patients, insurance coverage of COVID-19 tests, and waivers of Telehealth restrictions.

According to the letter signed by all nine members of Maryland’s delegation, residents have expressed concern about the potential expiration of the public health emergency. The impending deadline comes as the country continues to report over 60,000 new coronavirus cases each day.

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