End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and National Emergency Declaration
Dear UTRGV Family,
As you may know, the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) and the national emergency declaration for COVID-19, which were in place since the early days of the pandemic, expired last month. Some of the policies associated with these orders provided funding for the testing, vaccines, and treatments that have helped save many lives. And while COVID-19 is no longer the threat it once was in our region, it is now critical for everyone to understand how our communities and access to these resources may be affected going forward.
Will UTRGV students and employees need to follow new health and safety protocols on campus?
No. The ending of these declarations and orders does not affect how UTRGV students and employees are currently learning and working on campus. In-person classes, duties, and events have been taking place throughout the year and will continue to occur as regularly scheduled. All UTRGV community members are encouraged to follow these recommended COVID-19 prevention strategies, which — along with other relevant resources —are available for reference at utrgv.edu/commitment.
How does this affect the cost of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments for UTRGV students and employees at UT Health RGV clinical locations?
The PHE allowed many insurance plans to provide expanded coverage for COVID-19 testing and treatment, even for people who were uninsured, which helped make them available to the public at little to no cost. However, coverage for COVID-19 testing and treatment may now vary according to your specific insurance plan, which may affect the cost of these services and the amount you may have to pay depending on the healthcare provider you visit.
- All UT Health RGV Clinics (including Student and Employee Health locations):
- COVID related clinical services, vaccines, and testing will be treated the same as all other healthcare services.
- UTRGV Students:
- Students will be charged in accordance with normal payment processes and guidelines for clinical services at each respective UT Health RGV Student Health clinic.
- Laboratory services, vaccines, and medications will continue to be provided to students at the cost for those services.
- Any UT Health RGV Student Health charges are applied directly to the student’s UTRGV account and can be paid through ASSIST.
- Students with insurance coverage can be referred to other UT Health RGV services currently billing insurances.
- All UTRGV Students and Employees:
- If you are insured through another provider, we recommend confirming your coverage options and any changes that may have gone into effect since the PHE ended. Overall, it is always best practice to check with your healthcare and insurance providers to understand the potential costs of any testing and treatment you may pursue.
Ending of COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements
The COVID-19 vaccine requirement for Federal employees, Federal contractors, and international air travelers also ended last month. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is currently working toward ending their vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, Medicaid and Medicare-certified healthcare facilities, and certain noncitizens at the land border.
Moving Forward
We understand that this is a lot to process, and that the information covered here may cause some uncertainty for many. However, we are committed to supporting our campus community during this latest phase of the pandemic. If you have any questions or concerns about these or other related issues that may be affecting your UTRGV experience, please reach out to Student Health Services, Employee Health Services, or the Office of Human Resources.
Thank you for all you do to protect the University and the health and safety of our campus community.
Sincerely,
UTRGV Infectious Disease Outbreak Committee