US Declares a Public Health Emergency Post Hurricane Ida

US Declares a Public Health Emergency Post Hurricane Ida
People walk through flooded streets near Lake Pontchartrain as Hurricane Ida nears, in New Orleans, La., on Aug. 29, 2021. Gerald Herbert/AP Photo
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WASHINGTON—U.S. health officials Monday declared public health emergencies for Louisiana and Mississippi, seeking to suspend government red tape that may get in the way of providing help to people affected by Hurricane Ida.

The emergency declaration by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra puts a pause on certain payment rules and other requirements that could become an unwelcome distraction for hospitals and doctors trying to provide services under stressful conditions.