Hurricane Katrina Information for Mississippi Hospitals

Disaster system short-sighted on nursing homes: report

The National Disaster Medical System is not set up to help evacuate or care for residents of nursing homes during hurricanes, although it has agreements in place to help hospitals with their patients, according to a preliminary report by the Government Accountability Office. Both hospitals and nursing homes had trouble evacuating after Hurricane Katrina, but nursing home residents may have suffered particularly. "Federal officials told us that (the National Disaster Medical System) was not set up nor is it currently configured to provide assistance evacuating nursing homes," the GAO said in its report. The agency is expected to release a longer report this summer that will examine who decides to evacuate hospitals and nursing homes; which issues are considered in such decisions; and what federal support exists. Read the preliminary report.

[ via Modern Healthcare ]

MHCA Needs

The Mississippi Health Care Association needs supplies such as urinals, feeding tube bags, glucometers, mattresses, and wheelchairs. For information about donating, click here.

LNHA tracking residents

The Louisiana Nursing Home Association is asking all nursing homes that admitted residents affected by the hurricane to contact the association via e-mail (jbrady@lnha.org), phone ((225) 927-5642), or fax ((225) 927-5250).

Hurricane-ravaged SNFs granted reprieve from Medicare, Medicaid requirements

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has offered a reprieve from certain Medicare and Medicaid requirements for Katrina-affected SNFs in the gulf coast region. The agency's action follows the declaration of a public health emergency by the Department of Health and Human Services for Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. CMS is assuring facilities that have no healthcare records, or current information on health status or eligibility that the "normal burden of documentation will be waived" and presumption of eligibility should be made, stated a press release. Medicare payments will be available in advance to providers upon request. CMS will also coordinate with other governmental departments on relief efforts, including information on emergency shelters and staffing assistance. The full release is available here.

[ via LTC Liability Monitor ]

JNH Accepting Displaced Katrina Victims in Need of Long-term Nursing Home Care

Jaquith Nursing Home, located in the Jackson metro area, has available beds for individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina who are in need of long-term nursing home care and who are seeking permanent relocation. Jaquith Nursing Home is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed by the Mississippi Department of Health. For more information, please call (601) 351-8015.