MSNBC's Katie Tur grilled HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra Monday about the baby formula shortage after Becerra was unable to explain just when the shortage would end.
Anne Henry, LeadingAge PA
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Monday extended the COVID-19 related Public Health Emergency, allowing the continuance of several healthcare waivers the skilled nursing sector has come to rely upon since the coronavirus began spreading last March.
The PHE notably ensures vaccines can continue to be administered under emergency use authorization, providers can access emergency funding, and states can request use of federal resources including the military and supply stockpiles for another 90 days.
At least for now, it also adds time to waivers granted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servicesâ governing hiring, admissions and assessment practices. But as the agency has already shown once this year, it has the authority to revoke those Section 1135 waivers before the emergency officially ends.