HHS Offers Support for Storm-Ravaged States

WASHINGTON — In a May 6 letter to Alabama, Kentucky,
Mississippi and Tennessee, four of the states hit by a string of
deadly tornadoes and other storms in late April, HHS Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius offered options to speed Medicaid eligibility for
those who may desperately need health services but have no means to
pay for it.

The letter outlines ways states can immediately expand access to
health care by providing temporary increases in Medicaid income
eligibility limits and removing resource tests. States can also
allow residents who may have lost documents in the storms to
certify their income and residency, and can delay the process of
redetermining whether an individual remains eligible for
Medicaid.

Sebelius urged states to consult with CMS and its regional
offices to determine how best to meet their needs within available
legal authority.

Read the letter at www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/05/letter0506.html.