Government stops funding program that covers COVID-19 expenses for those uninsured
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The federal government has halted the uninsured program that covers the cost of COVID-19 expenses for the uninsured.
Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are down across the U.S but doctors say the funding remains critical.
The U.S Health Resources and Service Administration stopped accepting claims on Tuesday. They say they receive about one million dollars in claims a day and the program pays about $500 million in claims a week.
More than 50,000 providers relied on the program.
Health Officials say we have more tools than we have ever had during this pandemic. Such as vaccines, treatments, testing and masks. We have relied on those tools throughout the pandemic and they are crucial to prepare for a surge or another variant.
Dr. Tom Inglesby, Senior Advisor for the White House COVID-19 Response Team says, "If we don't prepare for s surge then we will find ourselves either short of vaccines in the future or therapies or test and we can't afford to be short on any of those things."
Doctors say we have made progress in the pandemic and to not move backward as hospitals, pharmacies and clinics need to be prepared.
Dr. Inglesby says, "It allows people to get tested early, they can isolate, so they don't inadvertently infect others so it's in all our interest to have strong programs for the uninsured."
In January, the Biden Administration notified Congress that it would need more funding to support not only the un-insured program but other programs to fight COVID-19.
"So the funding that's been requested by the administration is critical for that, without additional funding from congress we won't be able to keep doing what has been done over this past year," Dr. Inglesby says.
Congress denied the approval of $15 billion in pandemic relief, which put an end to the uninsured program and other programs.
"Starting in May we're gonna no longer be able to distribute monoclonal antibodies because we will run out of funding for that program," Dr. Inglesby said.
Dr. Inglesby says if additional funding is not approved there are fewer options for people who need care.
"It really restricts the choices and flexibility of Americans who may need to get care quickly if they have symptoms of COVID," Dr. Inglesby says.
On April 5th, The Health Resources and Services Administration says the uninsured program will stop accepting claims for vaccinations.
Flow's Pharmacy on Broadway says they will not be impacted by the stop in funding since they are not giving out as many vaccines as they were before.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says they will be having a call with the Health Resources and Services Administration Friday to learn more about the COVID-19 Uninsured program and the COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund.
