CMS announces blanket waivers for providers in earthquake disaster area

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced blanket waivers from certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements to help health care providers meet patients’ needs in areas of Alaska affected by Friday’s earthquake. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar this week declared a public health emergency in the state due to the powerful quake, which was centered about 10 miles northeast of Anchorage. Alaska hospitals remained opened and escaped major damage. For more on CMS’s blanket and other waivers in response to the earthquake, visit www.cms.gov.