Your CHCANYS: Special Hurricane Recovery Edition, 11-02-12
To Friends and Partners:
As New York recovers from Hurricane Sandy, CHCANYS is working closely with health centers in areas directly impacted by the storm to assess damage and monitor emerging needs while collaborating with state, local, and federal partners to assure the availability of needed resources and supplies. Through on-the-ground outreach and communication, the CHCANYS Emergency Management Team is helping centers to mobilize immediate recovery efforts while assuring that strategies are in place for long-term stability.
CHCANYS’ internal operations are functioning as well, albeit hampered by power outages and system overloads. Our Albany office is open, and our New York City office is scheduled to reopen on Monday, November 5th. While our phones in New York City are still down (for now) and our CHCANYS technology network was knocked out, all of our staff across both offices are working hard to reach out to all affected health centers and provide you with support. We still have a functioning web-based e-mail system, so any of our New York City staff members can be reached at the e-mail addresses listed on the staff directory on our website. Our cell phones are also operational.
This special edition of Your CHCANYS contains information and resources you will need as you move forward. We know that for some of you, it will take awhile for things to return to normal. We will be with you every step of the way. You will continue to receive information from us through e-mail blasts and website updates, and we encourage you to contact us at EMteam@chcanys.org if you need emergency management assistance or if you can offer assistance to others.
Please feel free to call me directly at 917-841-3203 if you have any other questions. We are continuing to partner with the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in their efforts to assess and respond to the damage to New York’s primary care system.
Please be assured that we will get through this very difficult time together.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth H. Swain President and CEO
Hurricane Sandy Recovery Resources
New York City Resources
The Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network (PCEPN) is collecting emergency management resource requests to be passed on to the Health and Medical Desk of the NYC Emergency Operations Center. To contact PCEPN, email info@pcepn.org.
New York State Resources
The New York State Department of Health has opened a Provider Hotline for questions from health care providers regarding regualtions, guidelines, closures and/or damages to health facilities: 1-866-544-1303.
New York State has established a Non-Provider Helpline for New York State Residents: 1-855-NYS-SANDY (1-855-697-7263).
Because of Hurricane Sandy, Fee for Service Medicaid is implementing the following processes until the State of Emergency has ended. The State of Emergency will be determined by the Local District and the State.
During the State of Emergency, Fee for Service Medicaid will relax prior authorization requirements for the provision of urgent services.
Providers will not be required to request authorization to treat enrolled beneficiaries for the provision of urgent services and will be reimbursed accordingly.
In the event that telecommunication failures prevent access to the Medicaid Eligibility Verification System, the Medicaid ID card will suffice as eligibility verification. If access to the eMedNY system prevents real time claim adjudication, pharmacies should dispense emergency supplies as necessary. Questions should be referred to the CSC Call Center at 800-343-9000.
Beginning Monday, October 29, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) refill criteria has been relaxed to enable consumers to get medications that were lost, damaged, or otherwise unavailable as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Providers and consumers may call ADAP at 800-542-2437 for more information. ADAP is fully staffed in Albany, and staff will do everything they can to make sure consumers get the medications they need.
Federal Resources
HRSA community-based service delivery grantees located in presidentially-declared disaster areas may be eligible for federal financial assistance. To access the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) guidance regarding federal disaster assistance, including available aid programs, please click here.
HRSA recommends that grantees apply to Federal disaster assistance programs in addition to taking advantage of local and state disaster assistance programs and assistance available through nongovernmental organizations. While HRSA may have flexibility with regard to certain policies, its ability to provide financial assistance to grantees during disasters varies by program and may be limited. Grantees are advised to check with their project officer to determine any availability or flexibility in funding during emergencies.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius declared a public health emergency for New York on Wednesday, October 31. Click here to read the press release.
Relief and Supplies
AmeriCares is a non-profit global health and disaster relief organization that delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States. In the U.S., they support more than 400 free clinics, community health centers, federally qualified health centers, health departments and social service organizations that serve the poor and uninsured. AmeriCares is licensed to distribute medicines in 49 states and delivered more than $22 million in domestic aid last year.
To contact AmeriCares, please reach out to:
Kate Dischino, CEM Manager, Emergency Response Mobile: 203.278.9918 E-mail: KDischino@americares.org
Euthimios S. Theotokatos Senior Associate, U.S. Medical Assistance Mobile: 914.552.3734 E-mail: ETheotokatos@americares.org
Direct Relief is a leading medical relief organization, active in all 50 states and in 70 countries. It works with more than 1,000 health clinics across the U.S. to assist in emergencies and an ongoing basis, providing them with free medications for people in need. For more information on Direct Relief's response to Hurricane Sandy, please click here.
Direct Relief USA is ready to support nonprofit clinics and health centers with donations of medications and supplies. If your health center is affected by Hurricane Sandy and you are in need of assistance, please call 1-877-303-7201 or e-mail usaprograms@directrelief.org. Please be prepared to provide the following information, if possible:
Brief description of the situation
Estimated number of people you serve
List of needed items (e.g. medications and supplies)
For a full listing of updates and resources, please click here to visit CHCANYS' Emergency Management Hurricane Sandy Recovery webpage.
CHCANYS is committed to providing comprehensive support for community health centers in the aftermath of this crisis and beyond. Please continue to stay in touch with CHCANYS staff by e-mail at EMteam@chcanys.orgor call our Albany office at (518) 434-0767.
