Federal Government Expected to Continue Covering States’ Emergency COVID-19 Costs

On August 18, 2021, the White House announced that the federal government will continue to fully reimburse states for some COVID-19 emergency response costs through the end of 2021. Covered services include emergency medical care, vaccination operations, and housing at-risk populations. This coverage is an extension of the January 2021 order directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay for 100% of eligible costs through September 2021. The extension also allows states to receive retroactive federal reimbursement for costs associated with the safe opening and operation of facilities such as schools, health care facilities, and child care facilities dating back to the start of the pandemic.