Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced today that the state’s COVID-19 public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023 coinciding with the ending of the Federal Public Health Emergency.  This means that any mandates or waivers/flexibilities that were allowed under the public health emergency will be lifted at that time, unless legislative action is taken.  The Administration will be filing legislation to extend three public health orders addressing staffing in out-of-hospital dialysis, the Medication Administration Program to provide additional time to come into compliance with regulatory requirements, and ambulance staffing to continue to provide flexibility going forward.  More information will be shared with respective stakeholders over the coming weeks.  An announcement from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health stated

“Every person in the Commonwealth has been impacted by the pandemic.  It is because of your work, your partnership, and your collaboration that Massachusetts is now at a point where we can lift the public health emergency and continue to move towards treating COVID-19 in an endemic state.  Your collective efforts encouraging people to stay home, test if sick, access therapeutic treatments, wear masks, and get vaccinated and boosted have gotten us here, and for that we thank you. DPH remains committed to keeping the lines of communication open, partnering with you however we can, and ensuring the health and safety of the residents as we make these changes.