Reimbursement available for Hurricane Rita evacuee care

Health care providers who cared for evacuees of Hurricane Rita are eligible for reimbursement through the Texas Medicaid office and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In accordance with Texas’ Medicaid State plan, reimbursement has been authorized for health care provided to Hurricane Rita evacuees who reside in one of the covered counties and did not have other health insurance coverage. This period extends from Sept. 23, 2005 to Jan. 31, 2006.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the overseer of the Medicaid program, will coordinate physician reimbursement for health care, long-term care, prescription medicines and medical transportation. Services that are not eligible for reimbursement include hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lenses and services provided by podiatrists, chiropractors, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed psychologists and licensed professional counselors.

Claims can be filed retroactively for up to one year after the date of service. To receive payment for services, providers need to file claims through HHSC. The commission will send providers specific instructions for filing claims and has asked that the following information be included on all claims covered under this provision: client name, Social Security number (if available), date of birth, sex, age and ZIP code. The client’s ZIP code must be in a declared disaster area for the claim to be eligible for payment. The claims submitted must also include services provided and dates of service.

Providers are asked not to submit claims for services for which they have received payment from an individual or organization as part of a public or private hurricane relief effort.

More information and updates, as well as a list of counties designated as a declared disaster area, is available through the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership Web site.