Following the lead of President Trump’s
emergency declaration for Florida, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom
Price, M.D., today declared a public health emergency in the state as Hurricane
Irma continues its track toward the Florida peninsula. In addition, he has
taken action that gives HHS’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’
(CMS) beneficiaries and their healthcare providers and suppliers greater
flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.
“Hurricane Irma has proven to be highly
destructive and poses a significant threat to the health and safety of all
Americans in its path,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price, M.D. “HHS has
pre-positioned assets and personnel who can rapidly deploy to assist local
responses in Florida to Hurricane Irma, and this declaration will help ensure
that access to care is maintained for those with Medicare and Medicaid.”
Secretary Price declared public health
emergencies for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands due to Hurricane Irma
on Wednesday. He also spoke earlier this week with Florida Governor Rick Scott,
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Roselló, and U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth
Mapp to inform them about HHS’ efforts to prepare for the storm and assist
their local responses if needed.
In addition to increasing the flexibility
in providing services to, and assistance for, CMS beneficiaries, HHS has
deployed more than 80 personnel to affected areas to help state and local
authorities plan and respond to communities’ medical needs, and additional
staff is on standby to assist.
Today’s declaration of a public health
emergency for Florida follows similar public health emergency declarations for
Texas and Louisiana that Secretary Price signed to help residents affected by
Hurricane Harvey. Secretary Price acted under his authority in the Public
Health Service Act and Social Security Act.
These actions and flexibilities are
effective retroactively to September 4, 2017.
Public health and safety information for
Hurricane Irma can be found at
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