As shared by the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD):
“Over the course of 2017, the United States endured 15 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each, the highest number ever recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ranging from droughts, wildfires, and flooding to hurricanes, tornados, and hail storms, these events wreaked havoc on affected states, jeopardizing critical infrastructure upon which citizens rely for their health and livelihoods.
As the nation’s main public health insurance program for people with low-income and the single largest source of public health coverage in the United States, state Medicaid programs face distinct challenges associated with emergency events. As a source of coverage and care for some of the country’s most vulnerable populations, Medicaid agencies must have preparedness and response strategies in place to minimize the impact on and disruption to their beneficiaries before, during, and after an emergency.
Consulting experts in California, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, NAMD has developed a disaster resource for state Medicaid agencies featuring:
• Background on Available Authorities, including Section 1135 waivers;
• An emergency checklist, encompassing mitigative strategies for before, during, and after crisis;
• Key emergency tips and strategies for states; and
• Additional Resources.
This resource is intended as a guide for Medicaid Directors and their staff as they lead their agencies through emergency situations. It provides high-level information intended to support their decision making before, during, and post-emergency.
