ICYMI: SecAzar recently declared a public health emergency in California due to wildfires, giving CMSGov beneficiaries and their healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.
beneficiaries and their healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs created by the wildfires.
“We are working closely with California health authorities and monitoring the needs of healthcare facilities to provide whatever they may need to save lives and protect health during these dangerous wildfires,” Secretary Alex Azar said. “With this declaration and waiver, the Trump Administration is helping to ensure that Californians who rely on Medicare and Medicaid have continuous access to the care they need during this disaster and as communities recover.
Currently, wildfires across the state of California have destroyed more than 1.3 million acres of land and forced more than 129,000 residents to evacuate their homes. Air quality and extensive smoke produced by the wildfires can present a significant health threat for people with asthma and other lung conditions and can increase demands on the healthcare system, a particular concern as healthcare providers respond to COVID-19 cases in the state.
HHS has deployed regional emergency coordinators to emergency operations centers in California to coordinate with state and local health authorities and emergency response officials. RECs serve as HHS’ primary representatives for emergency response and recovery throughout the country at the regional level and work with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officials and healthcare representatives to plan for public health and medical emergencies.
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