By HFT Staff

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering additional resources and flexibilities in response to Hurricane Ian in Florida. CMS is working closely with Florida to put these flexibilities in place to ensure those affected by this natural disaster have access to the care they need when they need it most. 

CMS stands ready to assist with resources and waivers to ensure hospitals and other facilities can continue to operate and provide access to care to those impacted by the consequences of the hurricane. The following is key information and resources for those affected and actions CMS is taking in response to the hurricane in Florida: 

Florida waivers. CMS waivers are available to providers in Florida who have been affected by Hurricane Ian and COVID-19 waivers remain for those affected by the pandemic. The non-COVID-19 emergency waivers can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/current-non-covid-emergencies. Healthcare providers who need additional flexibilities specific to the effects resulting from Hurricane Ian can submit a request to CMS here: https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/cms_1135 

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 Children’s Health Insurance Program (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 served through Medicaid and CHIP programs during times of crisis. For more information and to access the inventory and toolkit, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster- response-toolkit/index.html 

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. 

Health Information Privacy/ Civil Rights Accessibility Resources. During a public health emergency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary may waive sanctions and penalties against a covered hospital that does not comply with certain provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule in the emergency area and for the emergency period identified in the public health emergency declaration; to hospitals that have instituted a disaster protocol; and for up to 72 hours from the time the hospital implements its disaster protocol. 

Recent natural disasters have demonstrated the importance of ensuring accessibility to health and human services, including individuals in need of interpretation and translation services. To help first responders provide on-the-ground language assistance and communicate effectively during disasters and in accordance with federal civil rights laws, the HHS Office for Civil Rights offers a plain language checklist - PDF, including recommendations, specific action steps, resources, and tips such as to how to identify language needs in a disaster-impacted community to effectively utilizing interpreters. Additional information is available on the HHS OCR website.