How a Lack of Federal COVID Funds Could Impact Health Care

US President Joe Biden strengthened his call to Congress on Wednesday and called for more pandemic funding. Accessed by all Americans. “

The Washington Post reports that lawmakers may now approach the passage of a COVID-19 funding agreement, which is less than the government’s initial request. Republicans initially opposed the pandemic bailout package, leading to bipartisan efforts to find new plans. After disagreeing with the pandemic aid package, lawmakers completely removed it from the larger spending bill.

Biden said the United States has sufficient supply to provide promised shots to people such as: New qualification for the second COVID-19 boosterHowever, the White House warned of the consequences of Congress’s disagreement on a budget that includes funding for anti-pandemic measures. According to officials, the availability of free COVID-19 tests, free vaccines regardless of insurance status, and treatment for people at the highest risk of the most serious illness is all on track. ..

Monoclonal antibody therapy It will run out as soon as May, and without additional funding, the government will not be able to order any more doses. Paxlovid, A very effective COVID-19 treatment for Omicron. The US Department of Health and Human Services has already announced that the program for uninsured Americans has expired. This means that the provider can no longer file a patient’s claim without private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid compensation.

By April 5, uninsured, despite the country’s promise that anyone, regardless of insurance or immigrant status, will have access to a free COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot without worrying about hidden costs. The program will also stop accepting claims for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Amber Dousa, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told COVID last week: “If we have tools that work and we have to pay to use them, it’s I know it will be a barrier. ” -19 Media briefing. “I don’t want to worry that when I stepped into the grocery store and someone sneezes or coughs in the aisle next to me, they didn’t have the $ 10 to spend on additional testing. “She said.

The pandemic is not over, despite the significant relaxation of COVID-19 official regulations.Experts are now of a new type “Stealth Omicron” (BA.2), Does not seem to be more severe than the original illness. However, given the increased infectivity, cases have increased slightly in some areas, including New York City. Fortunately, COVID-19 hospitalization rates and deaths in the United States continue to decline, and the average weekly deaths for COVID-19 are declining worldwide.

Without action from Congress, members of the Biden administration and healthcare providers are similarly warning about the potential consequences of health care.

Is it free, even if you need a fourth shot or an additional booster?

CDC this week Approved the second COVID-19 booster Adults over 50 years old, immunocompromised, Johnson & Johnson vaccine and boosters.

In a recent media briefing with the Whitehouse COVID-19 response team, coordinator Jeff Jienz has sufficient government vaccine supply to provide a fourth dose to eligible immunocompromised people, including the elderly. He said it was sufficient to secure a fourth dose of other vulnerable populations.

Greater booster funding concerns are for the general public, and health regulators may approve or recommend additional doses in the near future.

If health agencies require all adults to receive a fourth dose, or “when circumstances change and a new vaccine is needed,” the U.S. government cannot meet that need without additional funding. Zients said.

The FDA’s Independent Advisory Board will meet on April 6 to discuss the need for future COVID-19 boosters in the general population and the potential need for future vaccines.

Can I get a COVID vaccine or booster immunity even if I don’t have health insurance?

The uninsured American program will stop accepting claims from health care providers on April 5, when non-health insurance people fire. This means that people who haven’t had health insurance since April may be charged for vaccine management, but the vaccine dose itself is free because of the government-purchased vaccine in stock.

Without more funding, it is unclear how accurately it will deploy and may depend on state resources and community programs.

If Congress does not provide further funding, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are programs that have helped adults and children without health insurance to secure other vaccines: Vaccine Program for Children (VCP) and Sections. 317 Vaccine program. However, the 317 program also relies on additional funding, according to KFF.

The CDC Advisory Board should recommend the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the program (although it is expected to do so if federal funding is scarce), but the provider of the shot will charge an administration fee. You can, but you can’t refuse. Patients who cannot pay, according to KFF.

Whether you need the first shot, a second dose, or are waiting to get a booster, text the zip code to 438829 or visit vaccines.gov to find the vaccine site nearby You can see the shots available at.

Is a free vaccine for children still available?

Zients will also say that the COVID-19 vaccine will be available Children under 5 years old, The United States has the necessary supplies to vaccinate that age group. Both Moderna and Pfizer are seeking vaccines to vaccinate the youngest and last age group, but neither has yet been FDA approved.

What about COVID testing and treatment if you don’t have insurance?

The same government program for Americans without health insurance stopped accepting COVID-19 testing and treatment claims on March 22 because of “insufficient funding.” It’s not insured. “

If you do not have health insurance and currently need COVID-19 testing or treatment, call the place where you will be tested or treated to see how or if it will affect you. please give me. If you haven’t done so already Order the second round of the COVID-19 test The government paid by visiting the United States Postal Service website.

According to ABC News, Quest Diagnostics, a leading test provider, could charge up to $ 125 for uninsured PCR tests. Prices from test services can vary, and ABC reported that companies such as Walgreens are waiting for further guidance from the White House.

What else will happen if the funds run out?

In addition to affecting the future supply of COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies and pill therapy AstraZeneca prophylaxis The White House COVID-19 briefing could also reduce people with immunodeficiency, said HHS Secretary Xavier Besera.The White House also says it needs more money to fund research Pancoronavirus vaccineMay be more effective at targeting future variants.

Other countries may also be affected by the shortage of US COVID-19 funding, as some of the funding for pandemic response will be used for overseas vaccination assistance. According to Our World in Data, only 14.5% of people in low-income countries receive at least one COVID-19 vaccine.

At this week’s media briefing, Dr. Anna Durbin, a professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, suggests that concerns about lack of funding extend beyond the current wave of COVID-19 to future pandemics. Did. Various viruses. Are you ready?

“There have been cases of concern about pandemics so far, whether or not it’s another H1N1 type. Avian influenza virusSARS-CoV-1 “, she said.

She said the United States wasn’t ready when COVID-19 came out.

“Now is the time to really solidify the money and think about the future and prevention,” Durbin said. “Not only about COVID, but also about pandemics that will surely occur in the future.”

The information contained in this article is for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended for health or medical advice. Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition or health goals.