On March 29, the U.S. Senate voted 68–23 to pass a legislative resolution that would end the COVID-19 national emergency immediately upon the signature of the President. The one-line bill simply states that the national emergency “is hereby terminated.”
The Biden administration will continue executing on its previously announced plan to end the COVID public health emergency on May 11, effectively ending pandemic-era policies and flexibilities for the healthcare industry. However, the national emergency will end immediately after President Biden signs this bill. While the national emergency has fewer implications for healthcare providers and states, it did include measures with an impact on the broader healthcare industry, such as the extension of election and notice deadlines for COBRA continuation coverage.
Although the White House opposed an identical bill passed by the House in March, it confirmed at that time that President Biden would sign the bill into law if it made it to his desk.