The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced measures to aid individuals and healthcare providers in Texas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding. This follows a Major Disaster Declaration by President Donald J. Trump on July 6 and a Public Health Emergency declaration by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on July 8.
CMS is collaborating with Texas and federal partners to maintain access to care. Emergency waivers have been activated retroactively from July 2 for providers in impacted areas. Providers can request further support through the CMS 1135 Waiver/Flexibility Request and Inquiry Form.
Individuals affected by the disaster may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period for health insurance coverage. They have 60 days from the end of the FEMA-designated incident period to enroll or make changes.
A disaster response toolkit is available for states to sustain Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program operations during crises. The Kidney Community Emergency Response program has been activated, working with ESRD Network 14 to support dialysis facilities and displaced patients.
Medicare beneficiaries who lost or damaged durable medical equipment can receive replacements by contacting Medicare services. Part D plans are required to ensure enrollees have access to necessary drugs, including from out-of-network pharmacies, lifting "refill-too-soon" restrictions during this emergency.
Certain HIPAA Privacy Rule provisions may be temporarily waived for hospitals that have activated disaster protocols. The HHS Office for Civil Rights provides resources on language access and nondiscrimination during disasters.
CMS will continue its coordination efforts with Texas and affected communities to support care access and recovery efforts. Beneficiaries and providers are encouraged to seek assistance via CMS’ Emergency Preparedness Webpage or PHE.gov Emergency Tools.
Information from this article can be found here.
