Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price declared a public health emergency in Texas Saturday in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
"HHS is taking the necessary measures and has mobilized the resources to provide immediate assistance to those affected by Hurricane Harvey," Price said in statement.
"We recognize the gravity of the situation in Texas, and the declaration of a public health emergency will provide additional flexibility and authority to help those who have been impacted by the storm."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday issued a disaster declaration for 50 of the Lone Star State's 254 counties — and officials said that at least one person has died as a result of Hurricane Harvey.
Abbott told reporters that the heavy rainfall coming from Harvey over the next several days would result in "catastrophic, life-threatening" flooding.
"I have issued a disaster declaration that originally included 30 counties," Abbott said in Austin. "This is a state disaster declaration, and we have now added 20 more counties for a total of 50 counties.
"I requested a federal disaster declaration that the president granted last night," Abbott said.
Mayor Charles Wax of Rockport said that at least one person had died in the aftermath of the storm. He provided no further details.
In his decision, Price acted under the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act.
Price also moved to give the agency's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Medicare beneficiaries and their healthcare providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.
Many Medicare beneficiaries have been evacuated to neighboring communities and hospitals and nursing homes may have no healthcare records or other data, the agency said in the statement.
Because of Price's action, CMS can waive certain documentation requirements to help facilities deliver care to patients.
More information is available through: https://www.phe.gov/emergency/events/harvey2017/Pages/default.aspx
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