Medicare resources for people impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

For Medicare beneficiaries affected by 2017 Hurricane Harvey and Irma, please see the Medicare.gov page: “Getting care and drugs in disasters or emergencies” found at: https://www.medicare.gov/ what-medicare-covers/ getting-care-and-drugs-in-disasters-or-emergencies.html

For healthcare providers and caregivers, based on the impact of Hurricane Harvey and Irma, the President declared a state of emergency for Texas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and the HHS Secretary declared a Public Health Emergency for these same states and U.S. territories allowing for CMS programmatic waivers based on Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.

As noted by Medicare, “[t]hese [Section 1135] waivers will prevent gaps in access to care for beneficiaries impacted by the emergency.” You can read more about Section 1135 waivers here: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/ Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/ SurveyCertEmergPrep/1 135-Waivers.html

For more information about specific Hurricane provisions for Harvey and Irma, please see: https://www.cms.gov/ About-CMS/ Agency-Information/Emergency/ Hurricanes.html

Please also see “Emergency-Related Policies and Procedures That May Be Implemented Without Section 1135 Waivers”: https://www.cms.gov/ About-CMS/ Agency-Information/ Emergency/ Downloads/ Consolidated_Medicare _FFS_Emergency_QsAs.pdf