CMS Responds to the Public Health Emergency in Hawaii and Florida
On August 11, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra determined that a public health emergency (PHE) exists in the state of Hawaii due to the wildfires beginning on August 8, 2023.
On August 11, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra determined that a public health emergency (PHE) exists in the state of Hawaii due to the wildfires beginning on August 8, 2023. With this announcement, CMS also announced numerous resources, as well as regulatory flexibilities and waivers to ensure that hospitals and other facilities in Hawaii can continue to operate and provide access to care to those impacted by the wildfire.
MIPS eligible individual clinicians who are located in a CMS-designated region that has been affected by an extreme and uncontrollable circumstances event (such as a FEMA-designated major disaster) will receive an automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) exception from MIPS for that performance year. CMS has not yet made an official determination as to whether clinicians located in Hawaii will be automatically exempt from 2023 MIPS reporting due to the wildfires. However, if a determination is made, it will be posted on the MIPS exceptions webpage.
On August 30, 2023, Secretary Becerra declared a PHE for the state of Florida to address the health impacts of Hurricane Idalia. The PHE will allow health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The PHE actions and flexibilities are retroactive to August 27th. For more information about the Hawaii and Florida PHE, please reference the following resources: