COVID-19 Testing & Information
Federal Emergency Declaration Expiration effective May 11, 2023
The federal government has announced that May 11, 2023, will be the final day of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration which has been in effect since January 2020. As the government transitions away from the emergency phase there are multiple components of the emergency declaration which will be affected, including vaccinations, treatments, and COVID-19 self-testing availability. We want to make you aware of these changes that will take effective on May 12, 2023.
What does this mean for me?
Starting May 12, 2023, you will still have access to vaccination and medication related to COVID-19
1. COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be covered for you at no charge
2. Treatment for COVID-19 (including Paxlovid® and Lagevrio®) will be available to you under your normal benefit structure (subject to cost share, deductible, and out of pocket)
What about the free at-home COVID-19 test?
• Starting on 5/12/2023 at-home COVID-19 test will no longer be covered under your health plan. You will still have access to these products as they are available without a prescription and over-the-counter (OTC).
• There are multiple ways to continue to access FREE COVID-19 at home tests, including:
• The federal government has provided access to free covid tests through their dedicated website, covidtests.gov. Every household in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home OTC COVID-19 tests and have them shipped to their home.
• You can also access free testing in your community. A list of community-based testing sites can be found here. COVID-19 tests are also available without cost-sharing to covered individuals when administered by a healthcare provider like a nurse, doctor, or pharmacist, without limitation.
Information & Resources
CMS Fact Sheet: What Do I Need to Know? Transition Forward from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
FAQs on CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 PHE
Vaccines Provide Protection Against COVID-19
The ongoing distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines have given us hope for our community’s recovery. We encourage our members to consider receiving this vaccine. Hear from Dr. Derek Beenfeldt, Hometown Health’s Chief Medical Officer, about some common questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Additional Resources
More than ever, it’s important to keep your health and wellbeing a top priority, and we hope you find value in these additional resources:
- Don’t wait put off appointments or other healthcare needs. Learn about the safety efforts in place at Renown.
- Hometown Health has several Behavioral Health Services available for our Members. Find the list here.
- Maintaining social connections is important for your health. Learn why here.
