COVID-19 tests, vaccine, treatment still free in Erie, for now, as federal emergency ends

The LECOM Center for Health and Aging will continue to provide COVID-19 tests, vaccine and oral medication at no out-of-pocket cost, at least for now, after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends Thursday.

Patients at the center, 3910 Schaper Ave., won't have to pay until the current supply of government-funded tests, vaccine and medication either runs out or expires. The Erie County Department of Health hired LECOM Health to provide these COVID-19 services.

"There will be no immediate change," said Jim Caputo, director of LECOM Health's immunization and point-of-care testing programs. "We have a stockpile that we expect to last until late summer or fall."

The public health emergency was declared in January 2020, just after the first COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States. The declaration provided federal government funding to battle the pandemic, including the purchase of COVID-19 test kits, vaccines and treatments.

Now that the health emergency is ending, the cost of these will transfer to patients and their health insurers, like they do for other diseases like flu. How much an individual pays out of pocket will depend on their insurance plan.

"As far as the vaccine is concerned, it will be covered under preventive services, which is a first-dollar coverage for Highmark plans," said Dr. Timothy Law, chief medical officer for Highmark, Inc. "When it comes to treatments like Paxlovid, there will be some cost sharing, whether that is a copay or they pay out of pocket if they have a high-deductible plan."

That cost could be considerable for those in high-deductible plans or who are without health insurance. The federal government paid about $530 for each Paxlovid course of treatment.

It's another reason for uninsured people to seek coverage through Medicaid or Pennie, Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.

More: Has your doctor's office or hospital returned to normal 3 years after the pandemic began?

At-home COVID-19 tests could cost $10 to $25

One of the biggest changes after Thursday regards at-home COVID-19 tests. People have been ordering them for free from the federal or state government, or getting reimbursed for them by their health insurer.

Their affordability is one reason why these tests now account for the vast majority of COVID-19 screening in the United States, according to the Associated Press.

Starting Friday, most people will have to pay for at-home tests, which cost $10 to $25 at most pharmacies. Some insurers may continue to cover their cost, but only Medicaid recipients will continue to receive free tests until September 2024.

"That's why it's important for people to know they can still get tested at the LECOM Center for Health and Aging," said Erin Mrenak, director of the Erie County Department of Health.

More: Jay Breneman's battle with long COVID: 'Life is just on a major pause right now'

COVID-19 care at local hospitals will remain the same

Patients who need hospital treatment for COVID-19 will not be affected much by the end of the public health emergency. Hospitals have billed COVID-19 inpatient treatments in a way that is similar to other treatments for nearly two years, Law said.

Hospitals will experience changes starting May 12, including an end to flexibility on the 25-bed limit at critical access hospitals, but these likely won't affect COVID-19 patients.

More noticable changes have been happening over the past several weeks and months. On May 1, UPMC Hamot became the final Erie County acute-care hospital to end its face mask mandate for most patient areas.

Hospitals also have closed their COVID-19 units as they have seen far fewer COVID-19 patients.

Just more than eight county residents with COVID-19 have been hospitalized per day over the past two weeks, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It's the lowest 14-day average since summer 2021.

"We now have COVID isolation rooms in our regular units," said Emily Shears, Hamot's vice president of operations. "We walked back into regular operations quite a few months ago, so we don't expect any major impact on May 11."

More: Erie County's COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to lowest level since August 2021

While COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have declined dramatically, local health officials caution that COVID-19 has not disappeared, despite the impending end of the public health emergency.

"The federal emergency may be ending but COVID is still around," Mrenak said. "You can still be sickened by it, especially if you are older or have a weakened immune system."

More: How the US reports COVID data is about to change. Here's what you need to know.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: COVID-19 public health emergency ends, what it means for Erie County