CMS Announces Regulatory Flexibilities to Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Ida
On Sept. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), announced via a press release that regulatory flexibilities are being provided to ensure healthcare access continues for residents in Louisiana and Mississippi impacted by Hurricane Ida.
The release states that “On August 30, 2021, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared Public Health Emergencies (PHEs) for Louisiana and Mississippi. With these PHEs in effect, CMS is also notifying Louisiana and Mississippi of the resources and waivers being made available to ensure hospitals and other facilities can continue to operate and provide access to care to those impacted by Hurricane Ida. Many of these waivers were already in place as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 PHE."
CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure was quoted in the release saying that “My heart is with the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast who are facing the devastation brought about by Hurricane Ida. With this administrative relief, we are acting to ensure people do not have a lapse in health coverage or lack access to the critical care they need. We are working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to provide access to healthcare and crucial life-saving and sustaining services when it matters most.”
The key measures and resources for those affected, and the actions CMS is taking in response to Hurricane Ida, include current COVID-19 waivers, disaster toolkit and support for state Medicaid and CHIP agencies, dialysis care, medical equipment and supplies replacements, suspension of enforcement activities, ensuring access to care in Medicare Advantage and Part D, and emergency preparedness requirements and provider expectations.
The release concludes that “CMS will continue to work with all geographic areas impacted by Hurricane Ida. We encourage beneficiaries and providers of healthcare services that have been impacted to seek help by visiting CMS’s emergency webpage (www.cms.gov/emergency).”
