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In Response to Hurricane Ida Public Health
Emergency, CMS Announces Support for Residents of Louisiana and
Mississippi
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is
announcing flexibilities being provided to ensure health care access
continues for residents in Louisiana and Mississippi impacted by Hurricane
Ida. 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.
“My heart is with the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the
Gulf Coast who are facing the devastation brought about by Hurricane Ida,”
said Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita
Brooks-LaSure. “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 health care and crucial life-saving
and sustaining services when it matters most.”
Below are key measures and resources for those affected and
actions CMS is taking in response to the Hurricane Ida PHEs declared in
Louisiana and Mississippi:
Current COVID-19 Waivers: CMS has compiled a list of
current waivers already available
for health care providers to use during the COVID-19 PHE. These
waivers remain available to providers in the States of Louisiana and
Mississippi who have been affected by Hurricane Ida. The New 1135
Emergency Waiver and Public Health Emergency (PHE)-related Inquiries Web
Tool launched on the CMS Waiver and Flexibilities. This webpage and can be
found here: https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/emergency-preparedness-response-operations/current-emergencies/coronavirus-waivers.
Disaster Toolkit
and Support for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies: To prepare for current and future
disasters, CMS has developed an inventory of Medicaid and CHIP
flexibilities and authorities available to states in the event of a
disaster to support Medicaid and CHIP operations and ensure continuity of
coverage for people on Medicaid and CHIP during times of crisis. CMS also
has developed a disaster preparedness toolkit for state Medicaid agencies
that contains a detailed list of available strategies that states may
temporarily utilize during a PHE, including streamlining provider
enrollment requirements, delaying renewal processing for individuals in
affected areas, and suspending fee-for-service and managed care prior
authorization requirements. CMS encourages state Medicaid and CHIP agencies
in Mississippi and Louisiana to reference this inventory and toolkit. For
more information and to access the inventory and toolkit, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/index.html.
Dialysis Care: CMS is
helping people obtain and maintain access to critical life-saving services
by activating the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) program and
working with the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks located in
Louisiana and Mississippi to assess the status of dialysis facilities in
the potentially impacted areas. This includes assessing impacts related to
generators, alternate water supplies, education and providing materials for
patients, and more. They are also assisting people who evacuated ahead of
the storm to receive dialysis services in the location to which they
evacuated. CMS has also advised people to keep an emergency supply kit on
hand in water proof bag, including important personal, medical, and
insurance information; contact information for their facility; the ESRD NW
hotline number; and contact information of those with whom they may stay or
for out-of-state contacts. They have also been instructed to have on hand
supplies to follow a three-day emergency diet. The ESRD NW13 (Louisiana)
toll-free hotline is 800-472-8664; ESRD NW 8 (Mississippi) toll-free
hotline is 877-936-9260; and the KCER hotline is 866-901-3773. Additional
information is available on the KCER website www.kcercoalition.com.
Medical
Equipment and Supplies Replacements: CMS will
temporarily waive certain requirements to enable people with Medicare who
have lost or realized damage to their durable medical equipment,
prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies as a result of the hurricane to
receive replacements of such items and services. This will help to ensure
beneficiaries can continue to access the needed medical equipment and
supplies they rely on each day. Medicare beneficiaries can contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for
assistance.
Suspension of Enforcement Activities:
CMS will temporarily suspend current survey and enforcement
activities for healthcare facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi but will
continue to investigate allegations of immediate threat to patient health
and safety.
Ensuring Access to Care in Medicare
Advantage and Part D: During a PHE, Medicare Advantage
Organizations and Part D Plan sponsors must take steps to maintain access
to covered benefits for beneficiaries in affected areas. These steps
include allowing Part A/B and supplemental Part C plan benefits to be
furnished at non-contracted facilities and waiving, in full, requirements
for gatekeeper referrals where applicable
Emergency Preparedness Requirements
and Provider Expectations: CMS has provided specific
Emergency Preparedness information to Medicare providers and suppliers
through meetings, dialogue and presentations, since November 2017.
CMS has a variety of resources available to providers and
suppliers available at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertEmergPrep/Emergency-Prep-Rule
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).
To find additional hurricane preparedness and response
resources for the health sector and the latest regarding HHS activities for
Hurricane Ida, please visit: https://www.phe.gov/emergency/events/2021-hurricane/Pages/default.aspx.
For more information about the Department of Health and Human
Services’ PHE, please visit:
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/08/30/hhs-secretary-becerra-declares-public-health-emergencies-states-louisiana-and-mississippi-due-to-hurricane-ida.html
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