Bridging healthcare access: strategies beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency

Issued in January 2020, the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE)'s termination was ultimately inevitable and has prompted reflection over how the pandemic elicited relatively progressive reforms to healthcare. Although we are concerned that the PHE's termination poses a significant threat to public health and equity, we believe that physicians, along with systemic changes, can provide critical support for patients as they navigate a shifting health policy landscape. In response to this evolving landscape, the article emphasizes the pivotal role of physicians and healthcare institutions in safeguarding patient access to care. It proposes strategies such as community-based workshops, patient navigators, and streamlined technology-driven redetermination processes to support vulnerable populations during this transition. Physicians are encouraged to engage in advocacy efforts, from voicing concerns at health meetings to collaborating with non-profit organizations and the media, to influence data-driven policy changes that prioritize patient safety and equitable access. Marginalized patients should not be slipping through the cracks.