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HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said today that the department's latest response to last week's attacks includes expedited health care coverage for low-income New York children and adults in the Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus programs as well as assistance to ensure the safety and well being of the search and rescue dogs canvassing the World Trade Center site.

"HHS is committed to providing assistance wherever and whenever we can to cover the very broad range of needs that people are facing," said Secretary Thompson. "Whether it be helping New York provide for those who need health care coverage or providing medical care to the search and rescue dogs that are a vital part of every rescue team, we will go beyond business as usual to make sure that needs are being met as quickly and efficiently as possible."

During a four-month period, low-income New York applicants for the Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus programs will only need to fill out a simple, one-page application attesting to their financial and other relevant circumstances. The temporary procedure will replace normal application requirements, which involve more detailed information and confirmation by the state. A fuller application will be taken and approved after the four-month period.

In addition, under the temporary measures, current beneficiaries who are due to be recertified for these programs during this four-month period will continue to receive coverage for a year without recertification.

One Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT) has been deployed to the site of the World Trade Center disaster with 13 veterinarians providing round-the-clock veterinary care to the urban search and rescue dogs working alongside rescue teams.

Like Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams, VMATs are part of the National Disaster Medical System led by HHS. Some 300 rescue dogs are at the World Trade Center site, coming from the New York region�s rescue squads and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In all, there are four VMATs across the country that can be called as needed in emergencies.

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