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.