WSHA recently sent a joint letter with the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking for the department to take a careful and thoughtful approach in transitioning waivers and regulatory flexibilities associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency. Our associations have asked that these waivers and flexibilities not be abruptly curtailed but made permanent in law or ramped down with sufficient lead time and processes to allow hospitals to continue to meet important needs of their patients and health care workers. We urge careful consideration of each waiver and request that certain waivers either become permanent or be ramped down as hospital capacity increases for lifesaving acute care for patients.
HHS and the Biden Administration have stated they will give at least 60 days’ notice before ending the national emergency declarations, which are required conditions for the waivers to be effective. Based on that statement the state of emergency will be extended until at least mid-September 2022.
