Most US countries have let their patient emergencies expire
In some cases, the state must have a statement in order to receive funding from the federal government. Even though Connecticut’s public health emergency ended last month, the state is keeping a limited release so it can get more federal money to help food support low-income families.
Andy Baker-White, senior director of state health policy at the Association of State and Territories Health Officials, said the pandemic has prompted some states to change their rules around the emergency in pandemic time. Legislatures have modified the emergency declaration process, shortening the maximum length of each emergency and reducing the number of times the governor can extend an emergency declaration. In Arizona, starting next January, the governor cannot declare a public health emergency without legislative approval.
“Given the backlash to this exercise of authority, it takes political will, as well as the cost of political capital to make a comeback statement,” Mr Baker-White said. “Some states have taken things that they can only do in an emergency and put that action into law, so they don’t need an emergency trigger.”
Virginia no longer needs an emergency order to allow out-of-state paramedics to enter the state for care, he said, because it passed a regulation that went into effect. Other states have permanently expanded the scope of practice of pharmacists and granted medical staff a waiver of liability for negligence.
But one impact of the pandemic – improved remote access – is at risk, as many of the exemptions that allow such care across state borders have expired. And in states where a state of emergency is no longer declared, hospitals are once again introducing capacity limits. Raising them in the event of another increase would require a different statement to be made.
Public health emergencies are only a temporary solution to states’ health care problems, and the pandemic has created an opportunity to reassess their functioning, according to one expert. , according to an expert.
“A reboot is needed,” said Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “Emergency declarations really need to be short-term. It’s good that they leave.”