May 17, 2023
In 2020, the US government took unprecedented actions with the Public Health Emergency to support public health and stimulate the economy. As a nation, we now find ourselves at a different point in the pandemic – with more tools and resources to better protect ourselves and our communities.
On May 11, 2023, the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration ended, as did much of the funding and flexibility that came with the PHE. The State of Colorado has provided the following updated guidance on what this means for Coloradans when it comes to testing, vaccines and treatments for COVID-19:
- The COVID-19 vaccine is considered preventive care. Currently, COVID-19 vaccinations are covered under Medicare Part B without cost sharing, and this will continue. Private insurance plans and Health First Colorado (the state’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), will also continue to cover the vaccine at no charge to enrolled members.
- Under the federal Vaccines for Children program, COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be available at no cost for children through 18 years of age who are uninsured, underinsured, on Medicaid or Medicaid eligible, and/or Alaskan Native or American Indian. There are more than 570 provider offices, community health centers, and local public health agencies that currently participate in the Vaccines for Children program in Colorado.
- For adults without insurance, free COVID-19 vaccines will remain available at local pharmacies through the Department of Health and Human Services’s Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments.
- All COVID-19 vaccines provided under federal government purchase will remain available at no cost to Coloradans as long as supplies last.
- Colorado Senate Bill 23-260, Individual Access to Publicly Funded Vaccines, helps ensure Coloradans can get vaccinated regardless of whether they have health insurance, identification, or the ability to pay an administration fee. The bill prohibits providers from requiring Coloradans to show documentation to receive a publicly funded vaccine, and prohibits the vast majority of providers from requiring payment for publicly funded vaccines.
- Coloradans should also expect possible changes in the following areas if they get COVID-19 after the federal public health emergency ends on May 11.
COVID-19 medicine
- According to CDC, “medication to prevent severe COVID-19, such as Paxlovid, will remain available for free while supplies last.”
- After that, out-of-pocket expenses for certain treatments may change depending on a person’s health care coverage, similar to costs for other medicines. Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) will continue to cover COVID-19 treatments without out-of-pocket expenses.
- For people without insurance, certain COVID-19 medicines will remain available with noout-of-pocket costs at pharmacies participating in the Department of Health and Human Services’s Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments.
Testing
- Some local public health agencies continue to manage free community testing sites in their area, and some pharmacies provide low and no-cost COVID-19 testing through the federal Increasing Community Access to Testing program. Those locations can be found on CDPHE’s COVID-19 testing webpage and CDC’s Testing Locator, respectively.
- Federally funded free rapid tests will remain available at some statewide distribution sites after the end of the federal public health emergency for as long as supplies last.
- Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part B will continue to have coverage without cost sharing for laboratory-conducted COVID-19 tests when ordered by a provider, but access to federally funded, free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will end. This is consistent with the statute on Medicare payment for tests set by Congress.
- While many insurers may choose to continue to cover COVID-19 testing, the federal requirement to cover it will end.
To schedule a vaccine appointment through Centura.org, click here.
To find a care provider in your area, click here.
