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As the Southeast grapples with the aftermath of recent hurricanes, communities are coming together to support one another during these challenging times. The devastation wrought by these storms has been profound, and with that comes information regarding waivers that CMS has issued. 

Hurricane Helene caused significant loss of life in eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and other nearby states. Florida was hit hard by Helene and the most recent Hurricane – Milton – but fortunately, the impact was not as severe as initially feared, for which we are very grateful. 

In the aftermath of these hurricanes, CMS has issued blanket waivers that apply to the entire affected region, meaning they will automatically be in effect for areas that were immediately impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.  

There are additional waivers that individual agencies will need to apply for. The application process is quick and can be completed online by clicking here. It’s important to not only focus on the federal CMS waivers but also to review your specific state requirements and see what waivers your state licensure allows in your area. 

State associations throughout the affected regions—Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida—are working hard to support home health and hospice providers, making sure they have the resources necessary to continue caring for patients. 

Providing support requires funding. Donations can be made to these state associations through the National Alliance, which was formerly known as the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) and NHPCO. You can donate online to support this important work. If you’d like to request a specific use of your donation, you can make the request here. 

You also have the option to donate directly to the state of Tennessee, and there are additional opportunities to support efforts in the Carolinas. Please note that if you contribute through the state associations or the National Alliance for Care at Home, your funds will go directly to support home health and hospice services on the ground. 

We are deeply grateful for the dedicated efforts of home health and hospices agencies that, although not directly affected, are using their own resources, as well as donated resources, to help those agencies that have been severely impacted. 

In places like Florida, residents are gas rationing to ensure healthcare workers can reach their patients. In the Carolinas, some nurses are riding on horseback to get to patients in need. These circumstances highlight the urgent need for support in these areas, and today we want to shed light on the incredible efforts of home health and hospice workers who are striving to continue patient care despite the challenges.  

Additionally, following the devastating events of the last few weeks, revisiting your emergency preparedness plan would be greatly beneficial to your agency. If you’re in the affected areas, you may have noticed some gaps in your plan as the situation unfolded. It’s crucial to address those weaknesses in your emergency preparedness. Additionally, consider incorporating elements into your QAPI program to help demonstrate improvements in the areas where you identified deficiencies. 

Healthcare Provider Solutions stands ready to assist with any of your Emergency Preparedness or QAPI needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. 

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