Public health emergencies were declared by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt in the states of Iowa and Indiana, after heavy flooding began affecting health care services.

Leavitt, who is empowered by the Public Health Services Act, said the move will assist Medicare beneficiaries by enabling hospitals and nursing homes in neighboring communities to expedite the intake of evacuees by allowing facilities to act “under a presumption of eligibility.”

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Kerry Weems said that certain operating procedures of the agency “will be relaxed to speed provision of health care services to the elderly and persons with disabilities who depend upon these services.”

According to CMS, the agency will “waive certain program requirements” for Skilled Nursing Facilities, including the “three-day prior hospitalization requirement for admission for evacuated patients.” The agency will also ease “limitations on the benefit period for those evacuated patients.” In addition, CMS said it will broaden the definition of “home,” allowing alternative sites to accept Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services.

To read the more about the CMS emergency relief effort, visit: www.cms.gov.