Storms, floods and a blizzard in North Dakota have led the President to declare a major disaster in the state. The blizzard in Grand Forks even rendered the NAS Jurisdiction D DME Phone Reopening line unavailable on Wednesday, and Fargo's DME Contact Center is also short-staffed due to flooding. At press time, staff were working on flood preparation and sandbagging efforts, but the IVR phone system is fully functional, according to a notice from Noridian. As a consequence of the severe weather, HHS Acting Secretary Charles E. Johnson has declared a public health emergency in the state. The action ensures beneficiaries of Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program continue to receive benefits. View the CMS declaration. Additional information on waivers and other flood-related information can be found on the CMS Web site.
Monday, March 30, 2009