The federal public health emergency (PHE) was renewed today by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, extending the PHE for an additional 90-days. Without today's action, the PHE would have expired on January 16. This is the fourth extension of the PHE since it was first ordered by then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar in January 2020.
The PHE provides additional flexibility for health care providers, such as telehealth services and other waivers. It is expected that the PHE will be renewed for additional 90-day periods as needed. There are several legislative proposals under consideration to permanently extend, through statute, some of the flexibilities that are available through the PHE so they will still be in place when the PHE is allowed to lapse, and today's extension will allow lawmakers to review these proposals.
The full order is as follows:
Renewal of Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists
As a result of the continued consequences of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby renew, effective January 16, 2022, the January 31, 2020, determination by former Secretary Alex M. Azar II, that he previously renewed on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021, and that I renewed on April 15, 2021, July 20, 2021, and October 18, 2021 that a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide.