Under the NDMS, Haitian hospitals, NGOs and other facilities will identify patients with life-threatening conditions that cannot be handled within Haiti or by evacuation to another country. These patients will be evacuated to hospitals within the U.S., and the hospitals will be guaranteed reimbursement at 110 percent of Medicare for the costs they incur treating these patients.
Accredited hospitals, usually over 100 beds in size and located in large U.S. metropolitan areas, are encouraged to enter into a voluntary agreement with NDMS, according to the release. As part of the agreement, hospitals commit a number of their acute care beds, subject to availability, for NDMS patients.
“States have been tremendous partners in the response effort to the devastating earthquake in Haiti,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in the release. “This is part of our larger strategy, working with the government of Haiti and our international partners, to help increase the capacity both inside Haiti, as well as in the U.S. and other countries, to help Haitians who need critical medical assistance.”
To enroll in NDMS, visit: http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/opeo/ndms/join/applicationforms.html.
