CMS
ACTIONS TO HELP BENEFICIARIES, PROVIDERS
IN KATRINA STRICKEN AREAS
The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services has acted to assure that the
Medicare, Medicaid and State Children's
Health Insurance Programs will flex
to accommodate the emergency health
care needs of beneficiaries and medical
providers in the Hurricane Katrina devastated
states.
Many
of the programs' normal operating procedures
will be relaxed to speed provision of
health care services to the elderly,
children and persons with disabilities
who depend upon them.
Because
of hurricane damage to local health
care facilities, many beneficiaries
have been evacuated to neighboring states
where receiving hospitals and nursing
homes have no health care records, information
on current health status or even verification
of the person's status as a Medicare
or Medicaid beneficiary. CMS is assuring
those facilities that in this circumstance
the normal burden of documentation will
be waived and that the presumption of
eligibility should be made.
Federal
Medicaid officials are also working
closely with state Medicaid agencies
to coordinate resolution of interstate
payment agreements for recipients who
are served outside their home states.
The
agency will also offer the following
relief immediately:
