Hurricane Katrina Information for Mississippi Hospitals

Medicaid Uncompensated Care

The message below is from the Division of Medicaid indicating that the Uncompensated Care Pool has been approved and claims may now be submitted. MHA staff is just now reviewing all of the attachments, but we wanted to distribute this long-awaited information to you ASAP. We will be following up with more information as necessary. If you have questions or need more information, contact Amy Arrington at (800) 289-8884, (601) 368-3215 or aarrington@mhanet.org.

From: Sheila W. Meadows
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 4:08 PM
Subject: Medicaid Uncompensated Care Program

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid has received approval of limited federal funding for uncompensated care provided to individuals from a county or parish declared a disaster area as a result of Hurricane Katrina who required medically necessary services in accordance with S. 1932 and were without private insurance, Medicaid or SCHIP in any state, Medicare, health care vouchers from any state, federal, or charity organization, or any other method of health care coverage including patient payments even if made based on a sliding fee scale at the time the services were rendered.

Attached is detailed information regarding this program. We are requesting your assistance in disseminating this information to members of your associations. Additionally, the information will be posted to the Medicaid website, www.dom.state.ms.us.

Effective immediately, the Division will begin accepting claims for the Uncompensated Care Program. Claims hand delivered to the Division should be brought to Suite 207 in the Robert E. Lee Building. Claims being mailed should be sent to:

Division of Medicaid
ATTN: Uncompensated Care Claims
Suite 801, Robert E. Lee Building
239 North Lamar Street
Jackson, MS 39201-1399

Download pharmacist_notice_for_uccp.doc (Notice for pharmacists)

Download ms_dom_uncompensated_care_form.doc (Uncompensated care form)

Download Title_XIX_Pharmacy_Invoice.pdf (Title XIX pharmacy invoice)

Download summary_of_s.1932 - Katrina Relief - Uncompensated Care.doc (Summary of S. 1932)

Download individual_assistance_designated_counties.doc (Individual assistance designated counties)

HHS releases funds for Katrina-related health care

The Department of Health and Human Services has released $1.5 billion in funding to 32 states to help offset the medical costs of caring for Hurricane Katrina evacuees. The funding is part of $2 billion provided for that purpose in the Deficit Reduction Act, signed into law in February, and will allow the states to claim roughly $4.5 billion in federal matching funds. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services granted special, emergency Medicaid eligibility to hurricane victims in the 32 states. “While the bulk of the funds will go to state Medicaid programs, several states that took in the largest number of evacuees will receive special grants to reimburse providers who cared for those ineligible for Medicaid but still unable to pay for their medical care,” HHS said.

[ via AHA News ]

Six months after Hurricane Katrina, Project Recovery services still widely available

More than six months after Hurricane Katrina, Project Recovery’s services are still widely available to those affected by the storm. Since September, Project Recovery has reached out to more than 55,000 individuals in Mississippi. Project Recovery was developed to assist people in finding ways to cope with stress caused by Katrina.

“We want to let people know that we are still here,” said Jennie Hillman, Project Recovery Director. “Even though it’s been months since Katrina, people are still suffering and we want to help them. We are here to provide our services to anyone who was affected by this terrible hurricane.”

Project Recovery provides free crisis counseling services through community outreach, public education and information and referral. The services are available to people affected by Hurricane Katrina, such as the local community and family members. The project provides these services throughout affected communities and through a toll-free Helpline at 1-866-856-3227. There are no medical or financial screening methods to qualify to receive services.

Common symptoms experienced following a disaster are loss of sleep, anxiety, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, and feeling hopeless about the future. More serious reactions are depression or relying on alcohol and drugs to cope.

“Even though time has past and media attention has decreased, the obstacles and struggles individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina face on a daily basis are still very much a reality,” said Dr. Randy Hendrix, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. “I would encourage anyone who is experiencing symptoms of stress or anxiety to seek assistance from Project Recovery staff.”

Project Recovery staff are available to individuals, families, community groups, businesses and service organizations at no charge for the purpose of realizing wholeness and coping with the devastation of the hurricane. Staff are continuing to visit communities throughout Mississippi, working in partnership with a range of agencies, both public and private, to bring services to individuals suffering from disaster-related stress, and to receive referrals.

Project Recovery is funded through a grant by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and facilitated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The project is a division of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

The Project Recovery Helpline is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For assistance, please call 1-866-856-3227.

Satellite Broadcast: Learning from Katrina

Public Health Grand Rounds, a partnership project sponsored by CDC in collaboration with the University of North Carolina School of Public Health, will air a satellite broadcast, "Learning from Katrina: Tough Lessons in Preparedness and Emergency Response," on March 31, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. EST. This live broadcast will be transmitted from CDC and will focus on the public health implications and vulnerabilities of disaster preparedness. Click here for more information.

MMWR Reports

The March 10th issue of MMWR contains various reports relating to Hurricane Katrina including:

• Public Health Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Surveillance for Illness and Injury
• After Hurricane Katrina Rapid Community Needs Assessment
• After Hurricane Katrina Carbon Monoxide Poisonings
• After Two Major Hurricanes Mortality Associated with Hurricane Katrina

Click here to view the entire issue.

Project Recovery now online

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) established Project Recovery to help victims of Hurricane Katrina who may have difficulty coping with the disaster. In addition to its telephone helpline, Project Recovery is now online. The web address is www.projectrecovery.ms.gov and the helpline is 1-866-856-3227. The Project Recovery helpline is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The site also has educational materials available for caregivers and communities. For contacts in your area, click here.

SBA loan applications due by March 11

The U. S. Small Business Administration is asking hurricane victims to return disaster loan applications before the March 11 deadline. These low-interest disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations that suffered damages as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

A completed application will also keep the door open to other types of assistance. If the SBA is unable to approve a loan for a homeowner or renter, the applicant may be automatically referred to other available disaster assistance programs, including grants. Those who do not return a completed SBA application may be disqualifying themselves from any further assistance.

In the declared counties, SBA offers loans of up to $200,000 to repair disaster damaged homes. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Loans to businesses and non-profit organizations up to $1.5 million are available to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and for leasehold improvements. Working capital assistance is also available to small businesses through SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. A business need not have physical damage to be eligible for economic injury assistance.

Disaster victims are reminded that to be considered for federal disaster assistance, including SBA's disaster loans, they must first call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The deadline for returning applications for physical damage is March 11; the deadline to return economic injury applications is May 29.