United Ostomy Associations of America

In the midst of this season’s alphabet soup of storms, government officials are reminding both health care providers and their patients with chronic illness and disability to be aware and prepared.

The Interagency Coordinating Council on Individuals with Disabilities and Emergency Preparedness offers the following list of Web sites for information and resources:

Current information on storms from the National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Information on emergency resources and activities in the following states:

• Louisiana: www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/default.htm
• Texas: www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/publicinformation.htm
• Mississippi: www.msema.org
• Alabama:http://ema.alabama.gov
• Florida: www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp
• Georgia: www.gema.state.ga.us
• South Carolina: www.sc.gov/Portal/Category/EMERGENCYMANAGEMENT
• North Carolina: http://www.nccrimecontrol.org/Index2.cfm?a=000003,000010
• Virginia: www.vdem.state.va.us

Information on hurricane preparedness: www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html

Up-to-date tracking of weather events where you live: www.weather.gov

This disability preparedness site also provides information on how people with and without disabilities can prepare for an emergency, along with information for family members of, and service providers to, people with disabilities at www.disabilitypreparedness.gov/ppp/disabil.htm.

In addition, the site includes information for first responders to help them better prepare for serving people with disabilities at www.disabilitypreparedness.gov/emrscp/index.htm.

 

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Hurricane Info from HHS, CMS
WASHINGTON–On Aug. 31, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt declared a public health emergency in response to Hurricane Gustav to ensure that individuals, including those enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama continue to receive their health care items and services. For the full text of the waiver, click here.

In response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, CMS issued Change Request 4106, “National Modifier and Condition Code to Be Used to Identify Disaster Related Claims.” Last week, officials said providers who must continue to bill Medicare during and after hurricanes can use the same modifiers and condition codes for emergency claims.