CLEVELAND — When Dr. Hassan Khouli reflects on the last three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, he recalls a war zone.

What You Need To Know

  • The federal public health emergency for COVID-19 ends May 11

  • According to the Department of Health and Human Services, many Americans will continue to pay nothing out of pocket for the COVID-19 vaccine, but the cost of certain treatments may change depending on health insurance coverage 

  • As far as COVID-19 testing, over-the-counter tests will no longer be free in most cases

  • Medicare patients will continue to have coverage when the test is ordered by a provider, but that is no longer required for private insurance companies
  • State Medicaid programs will continue coverage for COVID-19 testing until Sept. 2024

“I get a chill just thinking through that," he said.

As the Chair of the Critical Care Medicine Department at the Cleveland Clinic, Khouli said vivid memories of that battlefield will always stay with him.

He said caring for COVID-19 patients is a team sport, and the epicenter for the most ill is the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Waves of patients on ventilators dominated the ICU even just one year ago.

“Not knowing when this will end or it will ever end," Khouli said.

But today, he said things are back to pre-COVID operations in many ways. The federal public health emergency for COVID-19 ends May 11.

“Even though we're not seeing as many COVID patients, many of us are vaccinated or naturally immune to this, the sequelas, the downstream impact of COVID and the pandemic on us is not like on May 11 or so it’s going to be over," he said.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, many Americans will continue to pay nothing out of pocket for the COVID-19 vaccine, but the cost of certain treatments may change depending on health insurance coverage.

As far as COVID-19 testing, over-the-counter tests will no longer be free in most cases. Medicare patients will continue to have coverage when the test is ordered by a provider, but that is no longer required for private insurance companies.

State Medicaid programs will continue coverage for COVID-19 testing until Sept. 2024.

“Confusion. They don’t know what’s covered and what’s not covered and then people are nervous and scared and they don’t want to be having bills that they cannot afford to pay," Khouli said.

Khouli worries about delays in care for those that need it. He hopes the extra support given these last few years is phased out and doesn’t abruptly end.

“I hope that there will be an engaged discussion with our health care systems that lead in these areas and get their input," he said.

For Khouli, the value of preparedness and teamwork have been front and center throughout the pandemic.

Staffing shortages and burnout concerns continue among the profession, but there are efforts to show appreciation for our health care heroes. 

Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit Dr. Eduardo Mireles said team bonding art projects have been beneficial. There is a mosaic lighthouse displayed in their office that includes the initials of every team member.

“We were the beacon of hope that was happening during the region and throughout the world. It was a crazy moment for all of us, so it helped to just memorialize everybody that was involved in making it happen during those 2.5 years," Mireles said.

Although the federal emergency is ending, COVID-19 is here to stay, and Khouli is hopeful the lessons learned will help improve the future of health care.