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HHS declares public health emergency in the wake of Hurricane Harvey

Healthcare IT News: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service has declared a public health emergency in the wake of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas.

The agency will give providers greater flexibility in treating patients in emergency situations, as many Medicare beneficiaries have been evacuated to neighboring communities whose hospitals and nursing homes have no record of their medical history or needs, or even verification that they are in fact a Medicare beneficiary, said HHS Secretary Tom Price.

In response, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has waived certain document requirements to ensure that medical facilities can proceed with delivering care to these individuals.

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