U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra recently issued a public health emergency to deal with the effects of Typhoon Mawar on Guam's health.
The emergency declaration, which comes after President Joe Biden's, offers the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' health care providers and suppliers more leeway in addressing the urgent medical requirements of beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid, according to a June 2 news release.
“We will do all we can to assist Guam with responding to the health impacts of Typhoon Mawar,” Becerra said in the release. “We are working closely with territorial health authorities, as well as our federal partners, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support.”
HHS, under the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, has already sent disaster response personnel from the National Disaster Medical System to Guam, the release reported. Additionally, to assist with emergency response activities, HHS sent out approximately 45 members of the NDMS Health and Medical Task Force and Incident Management Team.
Guam Regional Medical City in Dededo and Guam Memorial Hospital in Tamuning are both receiving medical help from two HMTF teams, while operations, planning and logistics are being handled locally by IMT members, according to the release.
Becerra acted in accordance with the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act when he declared the public health emergency and approved flexibility for CMS beneficiaries, the release reported.
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell assured the people of Guam that they are ready for future emergencies, according to the release.
“We are prepared for this year’s tropical storms and hurricanes,” O’Connell said in the release. “ASPR has deployed dozens of highly trained response personnel to Guam as part of the combined federal and territory response to Typhoon Mawar – easing the burden on local health systems and saving lives.”
