HHS Takes Action to Help Medicare Beneficiaries and Providers in Iowa and Indiana

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt declared a public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana. The action gives HHS’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.  Secretary Leavitt acted under his authority in the Public Health Service Act. 

Because of flood damage to local health care facilities, many beneficiaries have been evacuated to neighboring communities, where receiving hospitals and nursing homes may have no health care records, information on current health status or even verification of the person’s status as a Medicare beneficiary. CMS is assuring those facilities that in this circumstance, the normal burden of documentation will be waived and that they can act under a presumption of eligibility. 

In response to the emergencies resulting from the Midwest flooding, CMS is providing resources to ensure effective health care coverage and quality of care for beneficiaries.  The CMS extreme weather and emergencies relief activities resource link for Midwest Floods is located by clicking HERE.

Questions and Answers on the Midwest Flood page can be downloaded by clicking HERE. (Click “New -CMS Response to Midwest Floods Emergency”, then under File Attachments, click on the Midwest_Floods_QA.pdf document.)

To read the HHS Public Health Emergency News Release issued click here.