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The Senate passed a resolution Thursday that would end the public health emergency, but it is unlikely to pass the House.
The resolution, which was sponsored by Senate Republicans, narrowly passed 48-47 along party lines.
Five senators, including three Democrats, were absent, giving Republicans the votes needed for the resolution to pass.
“We must repeal this emergency declaration today to deliver a symbolic victory to our citizens that normalcy is around the corner and that limited government and our constitutional rights still reign supreme,” said Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Ky.) on the Senate Floor Thursday.
The public health emergency has been in effect for almost two years, giving the government flexibilities outside of normal laws to respond to the pandemic.
Healthcare provider groups have been urging the Biden administration to continue renewing the public health emergency. A big issue for providers is Medicare coverage of telehealth, which expires when the public health emergency ends. Congress is expected to pass legislation that will extend the coverage of telehealth past the public health emergency, but it has not done so yet.
The Biden administration issued a statement opposing the resolution.
“The national emergency enables the administration to more effectively respond to COVID-19, including ensuring that necessary supplies are promptly available to respond to the virus and facilitating the delivery of healthcare at a time when our health system has been under tremendous and prolonged stress,” the Office of Management and Budget wrote in a statement.
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