Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: September 11, 2005
Contact: Maria Wah-Fitta (401) 639-8213

Gifford Asks Health Care Community to Provide Services to Self-Evacuees from Hurricane Katrina; Reimbursement May Come Later, But Services Are Needed Now

Dr. David R. Gifford, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is asking all Rhode Island health care providers and all providers of clinical support services to offer medical care, diagnostic and other services to people who have arrived in Rhode Island on their own after the devastation caused in the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina.

“The 106 people who arrived through the official relocation program in Middletown are in a very good situation medically thanks to the generosity of the local medical community. However, there is another group of individuals equally in need who arrived here by different means and who are scattered throughout the state. So far, we know of 75 people, many staying in hotels. 24 of these are children, and the numbers are growing quite rapidly,” said Gifford. Whether, health care providers will be able to get FEMA reimbursement for medical services provided to those individuals without health insurance remains uncertain.”

“I have received many calls from physicians and other members of our health care community asking me how they can help. This is what you can do: Offer your services to these evacuees who have registered with Red Cross, even if reimbursement is not guaranteed. Our fellow citizens have suffered tremendous loss, and are now our guests. We must do everything we can to help them, and your role is crucial to restoring their well-being at this time,” he added.

The state should learn within the next 30 days which services will be reimbursed through the Federal Government for medical care to self-evacuees without health insurance.

Members of the health care community, including physicians of all specialties, group practices, laboratory and imaging services, VNAs, dental care providers, foot care specialists, mental health specialists, and any other health-related services are encouraged to register into the RI- Katrina Health Care Helping Network through the Department of Health’s Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Out-of-state providers please call 401-222-5960). All other donations should be made through the American Red Cross of Rhode Island at (401) 831-7700, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evacuees can also register by calling the Red Cross.