Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the 2020 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Earthquakes

The Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on January 8, 2020, and authorized waivers and modifications under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (the Act), retroactive to December 28, 2019, and are in effect for 90 days. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing blanket waivers consistent with those issued for past PHE declarations. These waivers prevent gaps in access to care for beneficiaries impacted by the disaster/emergency. You do not need to apply for an individual waiver if a blanket waiver is issued.