CMS Strengthens Federal Support to Californians Affected by Wildfires

On November 14, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the agency has taken steps to support California residents displaced and recovering from the wildfires destroying portions of the state.On November 13, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency (PHE) in areas of California retroactive to November 8. The PHE allows CMS to waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements if necessary to provide health services.

The agency will take the following steps to support the state of California and those residents impacted by wildfires: 

• Waivers for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assistance for Hospitals and other Healthcare Facilities: CMS will issue a blanket Skilled Nursing Facility waiver, described on the website below; and the Regional Office will provide numerous technical assistance responses to the state, California Hospital Association and providers on specific types of CMS and other HHS program flexibilities that are available with and without waivers. These program flexibilities and waivers work to provide continued access to care for beneficiaries. For more information on the waivers CMS will grant, visit https://www.cms.gov/Emergency.
• Special Enrollment Opportunities and Medicare Flexibilities: CMS will be providing beneficiaries affected by the California wildfires an Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that gives them an additional opportunity to add, drop, or change their Medicare health and prescription drug plan in the event they are eligible for an SEP and unable to make an election during the fall open enrollment period or another election period for which they were eligible. For more information on special enrollment periods, visit: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/MedicareMangCareEligEnrol/index.html. When a public health emergency is in effect, Medicare Advantage Organizations in affected areas are required to waive prior authorization and other gatekeeper requirements and to allow care to be provided by non-contracted providers and facilities. In addition, Part D plan sponsors are expected to lift certain limits for drug benefits.
• Dialysis Care: Dialysis patients who are unable to receive dialysis services at their usual facility and who need assistance to locate a facility where they can be dialyzed, should call the NW 17 (Northern California) Patient Hotline (800.232,3773) or NW 18 (Southern California) Patient Hotline (800.637.4767) for assistance. The following large dialysis organization hotline numbers are also available for patients: DaVita Emergency Dialysis Services (800.400-8331); Fresenius Kidney Care Emergency Hotline (800.626.1297); Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI) Emergency Command Center (866.424.1990); and U.S. Renal Care Emergency Hotline (866.671.8772).

People with federal benefits and providers and suppliers of healthcare equipment and services that have been impacted by the California wildfires are encouraged to seek help by visiting CMS' emergency webpage: http://cms.gov/emergency.

Posted 11/14/2018