WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has expanded emergency healthcare flexibilities for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Bavi, allowing providers to access regulatory waivers retroactive to July 2 after a federal public health emergency declaration.
The actions follow Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s July 9 declaration of a public health emergency and are intended to help hospitals, dialysis centers and other healthcare providers maintain services while residents recover from the storm, CMS announced.
The agency is making blanket waivers and other regulatory flexibilities available to affected healthcare providers in both U.S. territories. Providers requiring additional disaster-specific relief may request individual Section 1135 waivers through CMS.
CMS also highlighted disaster-response resources for state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program officials, including a toolkit outlining flexibilities intended to help maintain coverage and program operations during emergencies.
For patients requiring dialysis, CMS has activated the Kidney Community Emergency Response program and is coordinating with ESRD Network 17 to assess dialysis facilities across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The network is evaluating generator capacity, water supplies and other operational needs while helping displaced patients continue receiving dialysis treatments.
The agency advised dialysis patients to maintain emergency kits containing medical, insurance and treatment information and to keep supplies needed for a three-day emergency diet. ESRD Network 17’s toll-free hotline is 1-800-232-3773, and additional information is available at www.kcercoalition.com.
CMS will also allow Medicare beneficiaries whose durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics or medical supplies were lost or damaged during the super typhoon to obtain replacements. Beneficiaries needing assistance can contact 1-800-MEDICARE.
The agency reminded Medicare Part D prescription drug plans that longstanding disaster policies require coverage for medications obtained from out-of-network pharmacies when displaced beneficiaries cannot reasonably access network pharmacies. Plans are also expected to override “refill too soon” restrictions for beneficiaries who lost medications because of the disaster.
CMS also outlined privacy and accessibility measures available during the public health emergency. Under certain conditions, the HHS secretary may temporarily waive sanctions and penalties for hospitals that cannot comply with specific HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements after implementing disaster protocols.
The HHS Office for Civil Rights has also made language-access resources available to help emergency responders communicate with individuals who require interpretation or translation services during disaster response operations.
Healthcare providers seeking disaster-specific waivers may submit requests through the CMS 1135 Waiver/Flexibility Request and Inquiry Form. Additional disaster-response resources for Medicaid and CHIP agencies are available at Medicaid.gov.
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