The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a disaster response toolkit to help Medicaid agencies prepare for and respond to natural and man-made disasters.
The toolkit aims to support Medicaid operations and beneficiaries and consists of two resources:
- a high-level summary memo on the strategies states can use to respond to disasters; and
- a detailed inventory of strategies and the steps necessary to execute them.
Both resources include specific examples of the strategies used by states in various disaster situations. The toolkit also includes an appendix that lists additional examples and the relevant legal authorities used in each.
CMS recommends that, in addition to reviewing the toolkit, state Medicaid agencies develop disaster preparedness operational protocols for contacting and coordinating with agency personnel.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
