Statement from Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma on Public Health Emergency Declaration in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
“CMS is responding immediately to the declaration of public health emergency issued today for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D. Unfortunately, we are already witnessing the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irma in these regions and the impact will likely broaden as the storm moves into additional areas. We stand ready to support our beneficiaries in the Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP), and other CMS programs, throughout this emergency and through the recovery process. It is vital that we provide needed assistance so that that local governments, providers and facilities all have the resources they need to ensure that people affected by the storm have access to care."
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