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.
Currently, bed capacity remains steady at over 20%. As of 3:00 p.m. today
- Total Available Beds: 12,231 (-1,337)
- Bed Availability: 20.5% (-2.0%)
There are 317 hospitals in Florida, serving more than 47,552 patients at this time.
Hospitals around Florida have urgently come to the aid of their colleagues in Southwest Florida with more than 2,700 beds to accept patients needing to be evacuated from Southwest Florida and many are providing critical transportation and transfer teams to aid in the evacuations. Those offers of assistance are being coordinated in conjunction with the hospitals that are evacuating, the receiving hospitals and with state teams.
FHA ACTIONS
FHA Daily Hurricane Briefing
Today’s call focused on the affected counties post-Ian; hospitals within the Lee Health System that are without the public water supply and working on critical patient evacuations; restoration of power; and other key medical resources for the region.
AHCA reminded the group to update the Health Facility Reporting System, including damages, outages, and bed availability, by 10:00 am daily.
FDOH is currently focused on reentry and health assessments in affected counties. State Surgeon General Ladapo stated that DOH will post all emergency orders on AHCA’s website for easy access.
FEDERAL ACTIONS
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
For the latest information, alerts and updates visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.
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)
This afternoon AHCA Secretary, Simone Marstiller, executed an emergency order, AHCA No. 22-002, extending deadlines for submission of letters of agreement from local governments to the agency related to DPP, the low income pool, and other special exception payments. The emergency order extends the letter of agreement deadline from October 1 to October 31, 2022. The deadline for receipt of funds from the local government to the state was extended from October 31 to November 30, 2022.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has established a webpage for Hurricane Ian containing important information for hospitals and health systems.
Florida Department of Health (FDOH)
The DOH is considering emergency action related to the prescribing authority of hospital based pharmacies. However, before they act, DOH needs to understand the breadth of the issue. If patients in your community have pharmacy access issues due to Hurricane Ian, please contact Michael Williams, [email protected], to report the details.
Licensed Health Care Practitioners Needed! The DOH is requesting your assistance communicating an urgent message to health care practitioners. Florida needs qualified health care practitioners to support recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Ian. Currently, there are over 200 shelters operating to serve displaced Floridians, and rescue efforts continue for those who did not evacuate.
Please encourage your members to register immediately, if they are able to volunteer, with Volunteer Florida to ensure they are placed where the greatest needs exist.
- STEP 1: Go to www.VolunteerFlorida.org
- STEP 2: Select “Volunteer”
- STEP 3: View volunteer opportunities posted on the page
- STEP 4: Select “Express Interest”
- STEP 5: Create a volunteer account or log in to an existing account
OTHER ACTIONS
Florida Blue
Florida Blue, Florida Blue Medicare, and Truli for Health (Truli) have implemented measures to ensure our members can access medical care during and immediately after the natural disaster.
Healthcare Ready
Healthcare Ready is tracking pharmacy operating status at https://rxopen.org/. They are working with KCER to populate it with dialysis center status updates in the next 24-72 hours.
Email [email protected] for any RFIs and our healthcare supply chain/access.
Sitrep: https://mailchi.mp/healthcareready/healthcare-ready-hurricane-ian-situation-report-3
Health Services Advisory Group Dialysis Patient Assistance Hotlines
Please contact John Wilgis at (850) 524-2037 for more information and assistance.