COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

In January 2020, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE) due to COVID-19. For Medicaid, the PHE helped prevent beneficiaries from losing their health coverage during the pandemic, even if someone’s eligibility changed. The PHE also helped health care providers keep their practices running so they could deliver care to Medicaid beneficiaries. 

In April 2022, the federal government extended the PHE through mid-July 2022. While we do not know for certain when the PHE will end, NC Medicaid wants to help beneficiaries and providers understand any potential impacts and steps they can take to be ready.