The government’s official 2022 budget plan was approved last week. It did not get approval to fund FREE COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and treatment. 

Funding was immediately withdrawn from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Uninsured Program, which, since the beginning of the pandemic, has allowed uninsured patients with COVID to get tested and treated in clinics and ICUs for free. 

Starting March 22, 2022, Americans will not get tested or treated for free. Coverage for vaccines was also removed; starting April 5th, 2022, patients will not get free COVID-19 vaccines.

This news of severe budget cuts for COVID care comes as a new variant, BA.2, rips through China and the U.K., and already makes up 25% of cases in the U.S. BA.2 is a variant of Omicron that spreads even faster and more easily than the original strain. 

While many of us are insured, the COVID-19 virus does not choose who it infects. This loss in funding will be a barrier for the uninsured in getting tested or vaccinated. In the face of a new wave of infection, this will add to the transmission of the virus and contribute to the spread; the ICUs and hospitals will be overwhelmed, surges will last longer, mask mandates could return, labor shortages will worsen, etc. 

A standalone bill for partial COVID funding, H.R. 7007, has been introduced and has not yet moved through the House or Senate. To keep the access to free testing, treatment, and vaccines open for all, H.R. 7007 must pass soon. At this time, H.R. 7007 does not specify whether a portion of the funds, if approved, would be dispersed to reinstate HRSA’s Uninsured Program. However, the funding will allow for those providing these services to continue operations for everyone.  

Americans were able to enjoy the freedom to be outdoors, eat at restaurants, attend holiday parties before other countries because of a well-funded plan that focused strongly on testing, vaccines, treatment, and research. Let’s petition to see our progress through until this virus is declared endemic. 

Sign our petition today to urge the House of Representatives and Senate to pass H.R. 7007 quickly, and to amend it to include reinstatement of HRSA’s Uninsured Program.