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One Year after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Recovery Has Progressed
Slowly in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Health Care
Challenges Remain, Particularly in Mental Health
One year after
Hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall, recovery has progressed slowly and
unevenly in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The territories’ health
care systems continue to face capacity, infrastructure and financial
challenges even as health needs have increased, especially in mental health,
according to two new reports from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The reports, drawing upon interviews with government and
health officials from both territories, public documents and data, and an online survey of 21 community health centers, find that
providers in both territories have restored access to some services limited
by hurricane damage, while other services remain closed. Provider shortages
in nursing, certain subspecialties and especially in mental health present
challenges in both territories. More than seven in ten (71%) health centers
reported an increase in the number of patients they served. Over eight
in ten (86%) health centers reported an uptick in patients with depression
and anxiety compared to before the hurricanes, and seven in ten reported that
patients were more likely to have suicidal thoughts or attempts and alcohol
or other substance use disorders.
Federal financing has been critical, stakeholders
say. Territory health officials have used additional Medicaid funds from the
February 2018 budget bill to support coverage and increase reimbursement
rates, but they worry about the expiration of that financing in September
2019. Health care providers have found support from nongovernmental organizations
and philanthropy helpful in moving recovery forward with less bureaucracy.
Medicaid funding is the most important source of financing for health centers
in both territories.
Hurricane Irma made landfall in the territories on
September 6, 2017, while Hurricane Maria brought destruction just two weeks
later on September 20th. The new KFF reports are:
The survey of community health centers was conducted by
KFF and the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy at the George
Washington University, with support from the RCHN Community Health
Foundation. Visit our special topic page
to see these and other KFF resources that examine various aspects of recovery
efforts in the territories, including our recent public opinion poll Views
and Experiences of Puerto Ricans One Year After Hurricane Maria.
Filling the need for trusted information
on national health issues, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a
nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.
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Wednesday, September 19, 2018
One Year after Hurricanes Irma and Maria..
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