Visit FHA’s Emergency Management page for the latest information and resources from past advisories. These updates include our emergency management notices, executive orders, ACHA Florida updates, CMS blanket waivers, and more.
Total Available Beds: 13,656
Available bed percent: 22.3%
Percent of hospitals reporting: 96.16%
Percent of nursing homes reporting: 98.99%
Hospitals evacuating: 15
Affected patients: 329
FHA ACTIONS
Urgent Need for beds for Patient Transfers
Our colleagues in Southwest Florida are assessing the extent of the damage to their facilities. There are several hospitals that have sustained damage and/or are without water and will need to evacuate their patients. The State has requested that FHA urgently identify hospital beds available to receive patient transfers. We appreciate all of the responses that we received throughout the day to the survey. If you have staffed beds available and have not responded to the survey, we would appreciate your assistance with this request. Please reach out to Stephanie Scanlon if you have any questions.
FHA Continues Daily Hurricane Briefing
AHCA encouraged providers to report in the Health Facility Damage Assessment Guidelines and Emergency Event Log to assist closed or evacuated facilities with their re-entry assessments and activities. AHCA OPC advises hospitals to work closely with their district office. If you do not get a prompt response or need additional assistance, contact Scott Waltz, Chief—Office of Plans and Construction at 850-412-4485.
State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo emphasized that the function of ESF 8 is to support evacuations, health evaluations, and damage assessments for Lee, Charlotte, Collier, and Sarasota counties. Yesterday, FDOH issued Emergency Order 22-004; it permits health care practitioners in good standing from out of state to practice in Florida for the duration of the EO. The State Surgeon General also reiterated the recent Emergency Order 22-219 that permits mobile pharmacies and relaxes prescription drug monitoring requirements.
Health leaders spoke on the assessment of damage, clean-up, and ensuring the safety of patients and their staff as evacuations continue. Given the impact on the public water system in Lee County, there is considerable focus on the transfer and evacuation of patients.
FHA sent out a new survey on bed availability to support the state’s efforts to coordinate the evacuations. We urge you to update the Health Facility Reporting System, including damages, outages, and bed availability, by 10:00 am daily.
FEDERAL ACTIONS
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
For the latest information, alerts and updates visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Provides Information on Waivers
Upon the federal government’s declaration of Hurricane Ian as a public health emergency, CMS has authorized certain waivers under sections 1812 and 1135 of the Social Security Act. CMS’s non-COVID emergency page has guidance for Florida on ways to utilize the waiver authority.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Resources
As of September 28, 253 pharmacies in Florida are reported as closed due to impacts from Hurricane Ian. Pharmacy status is available through RxOpen.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Provides Guidance for PRF Phase 3 Reporting Deadline
The deadline to file reports for Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 payments is Friday, September 30. HRSA advises that providers impacted by Hurricane Ian may submit a request to report late due to extenuating circumstances, including natural disasters.
STATE ACTIONS
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)
Florida Disaster Fund—In response to impacts from Hurricane Ian, Volunteer Florida has activated the Florida Disaster Fund. The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida's official private fund established to provide financial assistance to our communities as they respond to and recover from times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with public, private, and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.
Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and are tax-deductible. To contribute, please visit https://www.volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf/ or text DISASTER to 20222.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has established a webpage for Hurricane Ian containing important information for hospitals and health systems.
- AHCA reopening Information is on their webpage: https://ahca.myflorida.com/mchq/emergency_activities/IAN_2022.shtml. Per Scott Waltz’s, fill out the form and work with your AHCA district office. If you are unable to get a response/slow response, a hospital can contact Scott directly at [email protected].
- On the site, the Office of Plans and Construction (OPC) have posted the Health Facility Damage Assessment Guidelines and Emergency Event Log to assist closed or evacuated facilities with their re-entry assessments and activities. AHCA OPC advises hospitals to work closely with your district office. If you do not get a prompt response, or need additional assistance, contact Scott Waltz, Chief – Office of Plans and Construction at 850-412-4485.
- Secretary Marstiller issued emergency order AHCA 22-001 - which waves level 2 background screening requirements (S. 408.809(1) F.S.) for the 30 days following the order. Any employee that does not complete a required screening during the period covered by the order will have 30 days upon expiration to complete the screening.
Florida Department of Health (FDOH)
The FDOH Emergency Support Function (ESF) 8 phone number is 850-445-1380.
This is the direct line to the Department of Health emergency support function room at the state EOC - If a hospital cannot reach their county emergency operations center to request assistance, they can call the ESF-8 number to make a request for evacuation assistance.
The Surgeon General signed an emergency order yesterday evening that allows physicians, PAs, APRNs, RNs, LPN, CNAs, and EMTs licensed out of state to practice in Florida. DOH 22-004 also suspends, for a period of 30 days, DOH telehealth registration requirements for physicians, PAs, and APRNs.
Florida Department of Transportation
FDOT is reporting that due to their emergency response crews, all of I-75 is now open throughout Florida. Use @fl511_state for real time road openings and closures.
OTHER ACTIONS
Contact information for Utility Partners and Power Outage Update:
- Florida Power Outages Map
https://poweroutage.us/area/state/florida
- FPL – Online reporting here
Call to Report - 800-4OUTAGE (800-468-8243)
FPL App for iPhone and Android
- Duke Energy - Online Reporting here
Call to Report - 800-228-8485
Duke Energy App for iPhone and Android
TEXT “OUT” to 57801 to report
Contact at Duke Energy, Michele Cavallo, Florida Director, Business Markets at Duke Energy - 727-698-0204 [email protected]
- TECO - Online Reporting here
Call to Report 877-588-1010
Text “OUT” to 35069 or “UPDATE” to 35069 to receive messages
- JEA – Jacksonville Electric Authority- Online Reporting here
Call to Report (904) 665-6000
Health Services Advisory Group Dialysis Patient Assistance Hotlines
Please contact John Wilgis at (850) 524-2037 for more information and assistance.