(Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday declared a public health emergency for California to address the health effects of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Wildfires have ravaged Los Angeles neighborhoods on the east and west sides of the sprawling metropolis and have so far killed 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, with those numbers expected to rise.
The declaration gives the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) health care providers and suppliers more flexibility to meet the urgent health needs of people enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid insurance plans, HHS said.
HHS said its Office of Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is ready to deploy emergency responders, along with medical equipment and supplies if the state requests it.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday declared the fires a major disaster and said the US government would reimburse 100% of recovery costs over the next six months, and on Friday he reiterated his pledge to provide California with the resources needed to fight the fires and rebuild.
