Hurricanes and Wildfires Disaster Relief

On November 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released information granting exceptions under certain Medicare quality reporting and value-based purchasing programs to acute care hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, renal dialysis facilities, and ambulatory surgical centers located in areas affected by the devastating impacts of the Northern California wildfires since October 8, 2017, in and around counties in Northern California. These providers will be granted exceptions without having to submit an extraordinary circumstances exception request if they are located in one of the California counties which has been designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a major disaster county.

The scope and duration of the exception under each Medicare quality reporting program is described in a memo posted on October 30, 2017, however, all of the exceptions are being granted to assist these providers while they direct their resources toward caring for their patients and repairing structural damages to facilities.

On September 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released two updated MLN Matter special edition articles on Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey Medicare Disaster Related Claims for Texas and Louisiana.  These articles are intended for providers and suppliers who submit claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries in these states.

Secretary Price of the Department of Health & Human Services declared that a public health emergency exists in the States of Texas and Louisiana. Authorized waivers and modifications are retroactive to August 25 for Texas and August 27 for Louisiana. 

These waivers prevent gaps in coverage for beneficiaries impacted by the emergency. Providers do not need to apply for a waiver due to a blanket waiver being issued.  Please read the articles below for additional information:

• CMS Hurricanes Webpage
• Hurricane Harvey and Medicare Disaster Related Texas Claims MLN Matters Article — Updated
• Tropical Storm Harvey and Medicare Disaster Related Louisiana Claims MLN Matters Article — Updated

If you have any additional questions after reviewing these articles, please contact your MAC at their toll-free number, available through the linked interactive map. 

On September 8, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a MLN Matter special edition article on Hurricane Irma Disaster Related Claims for the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the State of Florida. On September 11, 2017, CMS released an MLN Matter special edition pertaining to the State of Georgia and South Carolina. 

These articles are intended for providers and suppliers who submit claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries in these states.

Secretary Price of the Department of Health & Human Services declared that a public health emergency exists in the US Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the States of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Authorized waivers and modifications are retroactive to September 4 for Florida and September 5 for both the United States Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Authorized waivers and modifications are retroactive to September 6 for Georgia and September 7 for South Carolina. 

These waivers prevent gaps in coverage for beneficiaries impacted by the emergency. Providers do not need to apply for a waiver due to a blanket waiver being issued.  Please read the articles below for additional information:

• CMS Hurricanes Webpage
• Hurricane Irma Medicare Disaster Related United States Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and State of Florida Claims MLN Matters Article
• Hurricane Irma Medicare Disaster Related South Carolina and Georgia Claims MLN Matters Article 

If you have any additional questions after reviewing these articles, please contact your MAC at their toll-free number, available through the linked interactive map. 

On September 21, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a MLN Matter special edition article on Hurricane Maria Disaster Related Claims for the United States Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

This article is intended for providers and suppliers who submit claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries in these geographical areas.

Secretary Price of the Department of Health & Human Services declared that a public health emergency exists in the US Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Authorized waivers and modifications are retroactive to September 16 for the United States Virgin Islands and September 17 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

These waivers prevent gaps in coverage for beneficiaries impacted by the emergency. Providers do not need to apply for a waiver due to a blanket waiver being issued.  Please read the articles below for additional information:

• CMS Hurricanes Webpage
• Hurricane Maria Medicare Disaster Related United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico MLN Matters Article - Updated 

If you have any additional questions after reviewing these articles, please contact your MAC at their toll-free number, available through the linked interactive map. 

Patients who depend on medical devices can be severely impacted by flooding and power outages and it is important to have plans in place to ensure the continued use of these devices.  The FDA provides the following links to information on how to prepare for a hurricane-related events when you depend on a medical device.

Medical Devices and Hurricane Emergencies (the links below can be found on this main page)

• FDA Offers Tips about Medical Devices and Hurricane Disasters
• Medical Devices Requiring Refrigeration
• Medical Devices that Have Been Exposed to Heat and Humidity