U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra today declared a public health emergency for the state of South Carolina to address the health effects of Hurricane Ian. The declaration follows President Biden’s declaration of a state of emergency and provides Medicare and Medicaid Service Centers (CMS), healthcare providers and suppliers flexibility to meet the urgent health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. To do.

“Hurricane Ian is blazing a devastating path through the Southeast, jeopardizing the health of millions of people. We are working closely with , local and tribal health authorities.”

As of today, HHS has more than 300 people deployed and is able to work with state health authorities, hospitals, and FEMA. These experts include the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Incident Management and Medical Teams, part of the Agency for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), strengthening and strengthening hospitals and other medical facilities. , is a bailout expert. In need of.

These professionals will work with FEMA, ASPR Regional Emergency Coordinators (RECs), state health officials, and emergency response officers to provide additional federal public health and medical resources to assist in the hurricane response. is determining whether it can be deployed.

“We stand ready to help South Carolina officials respond quickly to the public health and medical impact of this storm,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell. “HHS has additional experts from NDMS, the U.S. Public Health Service Commission, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ready to provide federal medical and public health support as needed.”

HHS also provides information available through the HHS emPOWER program (Partnership of ASPR and CMS) to support public health emergency planning and response activities. This program will provide valuable information on the number of Medicare beneficiaries who rely on durable medical devices that rely on electricity, as well as specific health care services such as dialysis, oxygen tanks, and home health care, to help guide future efforts. It helps us anticipate, plan and respond to needs. – Endangering citizens in potentially affected areas.

In declaring a public health emergency and authorizing flexibility for CMS beneficiaries, Secretary Becerra acted within his authority under the Public Health Services Act and the Social Security Act. These actions and flexibility apply retroactively to September 25, 2022.

Additional information about declaring a public health emergency can be found at https://aspr.hhs.gov/legal/PHE/Pages/default.aspx.