News Release

HHS Grants Emergency Aid for Health Care Needs of Katrina Victims in Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina victims in Louisiana who may have lost their homes and resources will get special help meeting their health care needs under an agreement announced today by HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt.

Storm victims from other states who may now be in Louisiana will be able to immediately enroll in that state�s Medicaid and State Children�s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under rules temporarily eased because of Katrina.

�The agreement we signed today will assure that Louisiana can continue to provide needed health care to those who have lost so much in the wake of this storm,� Secretary Leavitt said. �Access to high quality health care is critical to state residents as they begin to rebuild their lives and their cities. Today�s agreement will help make that possible.�

Under the agreement reached today between federal officials and Governor Kathleen Blanco, Louisiana will have access to an uncompensated care fund to help pay physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers who gave emergency medical treatment to thousands of displaced persons in the aftermath of the storm.

�We are also continuing to work with the state to provide new, prevention-oriented care and coverage as it rebuilds a community-based health care system,� said Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that oversees the Medicaid and SCHIP programs. �Additionally, we are working with Congress to provide further support for this health care recovery. By building on Louisiana�s existing programs, we can help the state get on the road to recovery with a stronger, sustainable health care system.�

This fund will include coverage for services not included in Louisiana�s standard Medicaid benefit package, such as additional mental health services offered by providers who do not usually participate in Medicaid. It includes coverage for needed services, prescriptions, and medical equipment for individuals like childless adults who are not normally eligible for Medicaid.

Louisiana will also grant temporary enrollment up to five months to evacuees who are children up to age 19 and their parents, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, low-income Medicare beneficiaries and those who need long-term care and meet certain income requirements. Those seeking help will be asked to complete a simplified application form declaring their income and assets, if any.

With this demonstration, Louisiana joins 12 other states and Puerto Rico that currently have the emergency Section 1115 demonstrations developed by HHS to assure that storm victims had immediate access to care and that health care workers and institutions were compensated for the care they provided. Other states can use the same model demonstration template to help them serve evacuees in their states.

Those granted temporary enrollment in Medicaid or SCHIP will not be charged any out-of-pocket costs during the temporary enrollment under the terms of the demonstration signed today. They will receive the standard Louisiana Medicaid benefit package.

At the end of the temporary enrollment period, Jan. 31, 2006, individuals who wish to remain in Louisiana Medicaid or SCHIP will be able to apply under normal eligibility rules.

For more information about CMS programs for Katrina relief, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina.