HHS Secretary Azar Declares Public Health Emergency in Virginia Due to Hurricane Florence Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar today declared a public health emergency in Virginia to prepare for potential impacts of Hurricane Florence. The declaration follows President Trump’s emergency declaration for the state and gives Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) beneficiaries and their healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs. “As the President has emphasized, we are fully prepared to support communities that need our help because of the storm,” Secretary Azar said. “We are working closely with state health and emergency management officials to anticipate communities’ needs and be ready to meet them.”  Secretary Azar acted under his authority in the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act in declaring the public health emergency in Virginia and authorizing flexibilities to support CMS beneficiaries. These actions and flexibilities are retroactive to Sept. 8, 2018.   Read More