September 6, 2005 -- HHS Reports Hurricane Relief Efforts

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has declared a federal public health emergency for the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida and is helping to set up and staff 250 beds in each of 40 emergency medical centers in the area to care for survivors of hurricane Katrina. The emergency declaration allows HHS to waive certain Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, and HIPAA requirements during the emergency and to enter into contracts more expeditiously, according to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. HHS has also established a website and a toll-free telephone number for health care professionals who want to volunteer in hurricane relief efforts (https://volunteer.hhs.gov and 1-866-KAT-MEDI). Multidisciplinary health care professionals with expertise in a wide range of medical and support disciplines are needed, including social workers, dentists, pharmacist, nurse practitioners, facility managers, licensed practical nurses, veterinarians, and medical health workers. HHS cautions that volunteers must be healthy and able to work under austere conditions.