LINCOLN- Twenty-three governors from around the county, including Governor Pete Ricketts and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, have signed a letter asking President Biden to end the COVID public health emergency. The main argument is that states are spending hundreds of millions in excess since they are required to keep more people on their Medicaid rolls.

“While the virus will be with us for some time, the emergency phase of the pandemic is behind us,” they wrote. “We have come so far since the beginning of the pandemic — we now have the tools and information necessary to help protect our communities from COVID-19.”

Currently, the emergency is declared through January 11th, 2023, and is expected to be renewed. The administration has promised to give at least 60 days’ notice before the emergency ends. Health policy experts have raised concerns about ending the emergency in January, while communities are dealing with increases in COVID cases, plus influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

For the full article click HERE