(WBBMNEWSRADIO) -- President Biden's plans to end the COVID public health emergency in May leaves it to local healthcare providers to come up with a post-pandemic plan.
"That's something that all hospitals are going to have to be aware of, and we're already making plans to start to address that," said Michael Bauer, medical director of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital.
During the peak of the pandemic, Bauer says, the public health emergency allowed hospitals to meet a surge of patients.
"Such as doubling up patients in rooms when appropriate, creating alternative care spaces for patients," he said. "Those things will go away potentially once those public health emergency mandates are released."
Another concern is reimbursements for hospitals.
"I'm talking about what the hospitals are getting to provide that level of care, and that really is a big concern," said Bauer. "Not just to us. It should be a big concern to everyone because we need to ensure the financial stability of all the healthcare institutions."
Uninsured patients will need to front the bill for COVID tests, boosters and treatment, he said.
"That may also, unfortunately, make people less likely to get a test if they have to pay for it, allowing for increased spread. We're going to have to see how all of that plays out," said Bauer.
Resources like Emergency Use Authorizations previously allowed for accelerated development of COVID-19 medications and boosters.
Bauer tells WBBM Newsradio it's critical that research and development continue as new variants emerge.
"It really is going to be a shared responsibility amongst the patients, the healthcare providers, the state government, as well as the federal government."
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