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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has said he will provide a 60-day notice before the federal government ends the COVID-19 public health emergency. Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has not received this notice and the current emergency declaration ends July 15, 2022, less than 60 days from now. DHS is now planning for the emergency declaration to extend beyond its current July 15 expiration date.
Although the federal government can end the emergency declaration at any time, the declarations are issued for 90 days. Another full 90-day extension of the federal public health emergency would put the expiration date in mid-October.
The emergency status means most Minnesotans who receive public health care coverage maintain their Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare coverage regardless of a change in their eligibility status, and without having to go through any renewal or redetermination processes.
The emergency status also extends Medicaid program flexibilities the state is using to help enrollees during the pandemic. Housing stabilization services providers can continue to help members receiving housing stabilization services develop their person-centered plans as well as provide ongoing service delivery. Parents, spouses and other legally responsible relatives of enrollees can continue providing personal care assistant services.
The extension also allows states continued flexibility to support easier access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP participants may also continue receiving additional Emergency SNAP (E-SNAP) benefits each month. The department must seek federal approval monthly to issue E-SNAP and has been approved every month since March 2020.
The federal public health emergency went into effect Jan. 27, 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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