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";s:4:"text";s:10217:"Providers also noted that, as an increasing number of individuals leave the island, many elderly residents have lost caregiving support, leaving them with gaps in care. In Puerto Rico, total lodgings registered with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company in January 2018 were down over 54% from January 2017, with the decline even greater in non-metropolitan areas.5 As of February 27, 2018, 85% of hotels were operating.6 In USVI, approximately 40% of traditional hotel accommodations across the territory were open as of March 1, 2018, but many of those open were filled with relief workers.7 All ports were open, and cruise ship ports of call to St. Thomas had returned to their pre-hurricane levels. We rely on readers like you to uphold a free press. Secondly joining with a state exchange does not change the fact that the territory did not get 100 percent of funding to meet premium subsidies, deJongh said. Elderly residents have faced particular issues, such as intrusive thoughts and nightmares, trouble sleeping and eating, and isolation due to the lack of a support system. Hospitals and clinics in Puerto Rico have resumed operations, but a number of clinics still do not have stable power. Barbara Lyons As of mid-April 2018, FEMA had approved 449,000 of the 1.1 million registrations for assistance for the Individual Assistance Program, providing a total of $1.2 billion in funds.8 In March 2018, FEMA announced plans to accept signed self-declarations of homeownership for cases in which all other forms of verification are destroyed or nonexistent, to help address gaps in assistance stemming from challenges showing proof of ownership and other documentation.9 FEMA has also extended the deadline to register for FEMA assistance to June 18, 2018.10 Individuals had mixed views on local government response efforts. In contrast, annual federal Medicaid funding for the territories is subject to a statutory cap, with a fixed federal match rate of 55%. The Consumer Assistance Program in the U.S. Virgin Islands is run by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Consumer Assistance in Virgin Islands. The brief builds on earlier work that examined how residents in Puerto Rico were faring two months after the storm and key issues for recovery in Puerto Rico and USVI identified during a Fall 2017 roundtable with key stakeholders. The 50 states and D.C. receive federal Medicaid funding on an open-ended basis, with a federal match rate that varies across states based on state per capita income. Territory officials and some providers reported positive experiences with FEMA, noting that they were working closely with the agency to finalize damage assessments and rebuild facilities. Although progress has continued with power restoration, power remains unstable in Puerto Rico, and remote areas have not had their power restored. 0:32 This match rate is lower than the rate the territories would receive if the rate was based on per capita income like the states. Some also pointed to increases in orthopedic problems, such as back, shoulder, and knee pain, associated with moving heavy objects as part of recovery-related activities as well as a lack of elevators during power outages for people living in high-rise buildings. Prior to the hurricanes, residents in both territories relied on a system of hospitals and clinics as well as private providers for care. Many of the clinics in Puerto Rico suffered damages and lost power.30 While they have resumed operations, as of mid-March 2018, approximately 1 in 10 (11%) of the permanent health center sites have limited or no grid power. This content is currently not available in your region. Residents continue to face financial instability, reflecting more limited work options and ongoing costs associated with recovery. Facebook. A Source study shows revenge killings drive the territory's troubling murder count. U.S. Coronavirus Cases (10/14): 7.902 million, Health Care in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: A Six-Month Check-Up After the…, how residents in Puerto Rico were faring two months after the storm, key issues for recovery in Puerto Rico and USVI identified during a Fall 2017 roundtable with key stakeholders, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Care in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: A Six-Month Check-Up After the Storms (Event), Health Care: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Six Months After the Storms (Video), Atención de salud en Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos: una revisión, a seis meses de las tormentas (Informe), Health Centers in Puerto Rico: Operational Status after Hurricane Maria, Voices from Puerto Rico: Reflections Two Months After Maria (Report). Individual residents described ongoing emotional effects, including stress and anxiety, problems sleeping and eating, and crying and depression. They noted that, as these populations leave, the remaining population is older and has less family available to help care for them. Some were living in their damaged homes, while others had made other living arrangements, typically living with other family members. Hospitals, clinics, and local health officials had generally positive views of their experiences working with federal partners and the military. In addition, one clinic representative noted that, although they had been involved in emergency planning activities, the government did not coordinate with the clinic on response efforts. July 12, 2013. These problems exacerbated existing difficulties, many of which stemmed from disparities in the federal government’s treatment of territories compared to states.1. Overall, the ongoing service limitations across the USVI require continued off-island transfers for individuals with high needs and limit the ability of evacuated individuals to return home. In particular, they noted the importance of both short-term federal funding relief for Medicaid and legislation to address the longer-term issues of the cap on federal funds and lower federal match rate for the territories. The February 2018 federal budget bill provided instrumental federal support for the territories’ Medicaid programs, but it did not address underlying disparities faced by the territories. It will take a further commitment of consistent local funding to meet local matching requirements,” he said. When territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are selected under "State Information," the site reads: “If you live in [U.S. Share on Facebook. Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas suffered major structural damage, leaving it with limited capacity to provide inpatient care, emergency services, and dialysis care six months after the storms. ", The first fact is that the closure of Hovensa reduced revenues "and therefore our ability to meet the higher local match requirement to exhaust the basic Medicaid amount to then access the amounts provided under the Affordable Care Act," deJongh said, adding that he believes Christensen "knows this because she has been unsuccessful in getting us state parity on this funding.". Others felt that the local response has been strong and played a helpful role in recovery within the community. Figure 1: Share of Population In Puerto Rico and USVI with Medicaid/CHIP Coverage Prior to the Hurricanes. Opens in a new window. In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria created historic damage to Puerto Rico and USVI, exacerbating preexisting economic and health issues. Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused devastating damage to both Puerto Rico and USVI, and exacerbated pre-existing fiscal and health challenges. Officials noted that modular units and dialysis trailers are being brought to USVI to expand service capacity, which will hopefully reduce off-island transfers and allow more evacuees to return home. Further, they pointed to increased costs associated with recovery, including generator fuel, replacement of damaged and lost items, and repairs. As of mid-April 2018, the hospital was waiting on a final determination from FEMA as to whether it will repair and rebuild the existing facility or construct a new facility. Hospital and clinic staff noted that this shift in coverage is increasing financial strain on their operations due to losses of commercial pay patients. If the territory can fund the 45 percent local match, it could access more federal Medicaid dollars over the upcoming decade than if the funding goes to subsidize premiums. “I hope though that if indeed the funding is used to further expand the Medicaid coverage, with the ability to set our own poverty level, that the increased eligibility will be able to cover a significant portion of the now uninsured who are above the current federal poverty level and who are unable to purchase individual coverage,” she said. No Obamacare Health Insurance Exchange for USVI. Published: Apr 24, 2018. #visource #usvi #news ... See MoreSee Less, Senate Panel OKs $375,000 for Beach Access Construction | St. Thomas Source, Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email. Coming Thursday: “Infidel” and “2 Hearts”, The Youth, Sports, Parks and Recreation Committee advanced legislation on Tuesday that would, if signed into law, allocate $375,000 toward the construction of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps or walkways on at least two beaches in each island district. “As highlighted in the report, if we enjoyed the financial benefits provided to states, we would ensure subsidy coverage over the period of health care reform including yearly cost increases for subsidies due to persons rolling on and off the exchange,” deJongh said. An actuarial study commissioned by the government found the Virgin Islands would need about $34.5 million for first-year subsidies to cover 9,600 households and 13,400 individuals. The USVI Department of Health operated three health facilities across the three major islands.29 Both territories also had a network of private providers, although they were facing provider shortages and difficulties attracting and retaining providers. ";s:7:"keyword";s:14:"obamacare usvi";s:5:"links";s:675:"Restaurants Near Superstition Mall, Midhudson Regional Hospital Of Westchester Medical Center, Netflix The Good Nurse, Encore Tickets Coronavirus, I Think We're Alone Now Chords, ";s:7:"expired";i:-1;}