HELENA, Mont. – Together with half of the nation’s governors, Governor Greg Gianforte today called on President Joe Biden to end the public health emergency (PHE) and its associated mandates burdening taxpayers.
“It has been nearly three years since the federal government has declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the governors wrote. “While the virus will be with us for some time, the emergency phase of the pandemic is behind us.”
In September, President Biden acknowledged in a 60 Minutes interview that “The pandemic is over.” The United States Senate also passed a bipartisan resolution to terminate the national emergency this November.
“The PHE is negatively affecting states, primarily by artificially growing our population covered under Medicaid (both traditional and expanded populations), regardless of whether individuals continue to be eligible under the program,” the governors wrote.
“Making the situation worst, we know that a considerable number of individuals have returned to employer sponsored coverage or are receiving coverage through the individual market, and yet states still must account and pay for their Medicaid enrollment in our non-federal share. This is costing states hundreds of millions of dollars,” they continued.
Governor Gianforte and the governors urge the president to end the national emergency and public health emergency in April, providing notice to states well in advance to allow them to plan for the future.
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