From: Bob Kafka Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 4:07 PM Subject: Re: Message from the Commissioner Regarding Hurricane Assistance
INFORMATION FROM ILRU IN HOUSTON
----- Original Message ----- From: "Heinsohn, Dawn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 3:50 PM Subject: Help the CILs in Hurricane path
Dear IL Colleague, As you may know, the Centers for Independent Living in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans have been gravely affected by the hurricane. In fact the Biloxi, MS center was totally destroyed. Many of you are asking how you can help. Here is what we have learned from colleagues in those states. Sending money is the first priority. Sending supplies to those centers is helpful too but NOT RIGHT NOW, because they can't get through the water. Here are the suggested options for right now: 1) Send a check or credit card payment to the Red Cross and designate it for Hurricane Relief, or designate it for people with disabilities in the Biloxi/Hattiesburg or New Orleans areas. 2) If you want to send money for the CILs that are dealing with this disaster directly, here are your options: For the Biloxi Center, mail the check (payable to LIFE of Central MS and designated for the Biloxi Center) to: LIFE of Central Mississippi 754 North President Street, Suite 1 Jackson, MS 39202 For the centers in Louisiana (make checks payable to Resources for Independent Living - this is a branch of the N.O. center - and designate for the New Orleans center)and mail to: Resources for IL 11931 Industriplex Blvd. Suite 200 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 We have also learned from Mack Marsh of the Shreveport Center that centers in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles are assisting evacuees. Mack says they would also appreciate supplies if there is any way to get those supplies to the centers. His list includes: manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, adult diapers, bed pads, catheters and other supplies. The address for the Baton Rouge center is shown above, addresses for the Shreveport and Lake Charles centers follow. Southwest LA Independence Center, Inc. Mitch Granger 1202 Kirkman, Suite C Lake Charles, LA 70601 New Horizons, Inc. Jerry Kidwell 9300 Mansfield Road, Suite 204 Shreveport, LA 71118 We will keep you informed of any additional ways that you can help. Feel free to forward this information to other people interested in the needs of people with disabilities affected by this disaster.
Dawn Heinsohn IL NET: ILRU/NCIL National Training and Technical Assistance Project ILRU Program 2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000 Houston, TX 77019 713.520.0232 ext. 130 (v) 713.520.5136 (TTY) 713.520.5785 (fax) Worldwide Web Site: http://www.ilru.org ILRU is a program of TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research), a nationally recognized medical rehabilitation facility for persons with disabilities in Houston. http://www.tirr.org/ --ilru: over 25 years of creating a world of independence--
----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Kafka To: John Lancaster ; Andy Imparato ; 'Rossberg, Catheryn' ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Texas State Independent Living Council ; 'Glenda Rogers' (E-mail) ; Disability Policy Consortium (Disability Policy Consortium) ; Thomas, Stephanie ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Judy Telge ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Hawkins,Albert ; Lex Frieden ; Mark McCllelan ; dennis smith ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 10:37 AM Subject: Message from the Commissioner Regarding Hurricane Assistance
Hi: This is info from HHSC on some things they are doing for folks coming to Texas after "Katrina". It is clear that many of these folks are low income and will need medical, social and independent living support services for quite a while. Many have physical, mental and/or cognitive disabilities that may need ongoing support services beyond their medical needs. I think we are all looking for ways we can help. One way is for us to communicate to each other on what we are doing in our own communities and how we can assist each other in our efforts to assist those in need. Please keep in touch. Take care The ADAPT Community 512/442-0252 ----- Original Message ----- From: Berndt,Trey To: Bob Kafka (E-mail) Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 9:34 AM Subject: FW: Message from the Commissioner Regarding Hurricane Assistance
Bob- per our phone call, see below (better detail) and similar info on HHS system website at- http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/ Trey Berndt Senior Policy Advisor Office of Deputy Executive Commissioner for Health Services 512.424.6556 512.424.6665 FAX -----Original Message----- From: HHS Communications Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 4:18 PM To: ALL HHSC Subject: Message from the Commissioner Regarding Hurricane Assistance
I want to thank the many staff who are helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This is a developing situation, and we are working with our federal partners to develop an approved process to provide assistance to those seeking help in our eligibility offices. But thousands of people need our assistance now, and we will not hesitate to provide it.
We will provide you with more information as quickly as it becomes available, but please refer to the information below when working with those displaced by the storm. Again, I appreciate the personal sacrifices many of you are making to help others.
-- Albert Hawkins
Food Stamps All individuals who are displaced by Hurricane Katrina and are appearing in HHSC offices are being treated as applicants for expedited food stamp benefits, regardless of previous receipt of benefits in another state and other eligibility factors.
Specifically: a.. Take client statement for income and other eligibility factors. b.. Disregard resources. c.. If the applicant has income but it is not accessible to him/her, use judgment to provide the applicant access to benefits. If some or all of the household's income is not available to the applicant, document the client's statement and certify the case based on the income that is available. All cases should be certified for August and September only even if the household is receiving benefits in another state. For applications with file date of September 1 or after, certify for September only. We may revisit this in the coming days as the extent of the damage becomes more evident.
We are working with retailers to ensure that displaced individuals who have an EBT card from an affected state can access and use those benefits in Texas at larger retailers such as HEB, Kroger, and Wal-Mart. Louisiana has applied for a disaster declaration that will allow them, among other things, to load all recipients' benefits onto their EBT card on September 1 (as opposed to a staggered issuance) and to issue a supplemental payment to compensate for damaged food. This will benefit displaced food stamp recipients who have their EBT card.
Medicaid and TANF We are working with our federal partners to resolve issues regarding eligibility for Medicaid and TANF as quickly as possible. Until we receive further guidance, for Medicaid and TANF benefits:
a.. Refer those in need of immediate medical care to local public facilities. b.. Take the applicant's self-declaration and any available information. c.. We will complete processing on these cases as soon as final guidelines have been confirmed.
Extended Office Hours Our offices continue to refer clients to the Red Cross, food banks, shelters, and other resources that can help meet their needs. We have distributed a directory of shelters accepting refugees to field staff and will update the list as shelters continue to open across the state.
Offices in affected areas will have extended hours as long as needed. SAVERR and TIERS will remain up until 9 p.m. CDT to accommodate increased traffic. We have requested volunteers from other regions to help in Regions 3 and 6. We have authorized staff overtime and travel to assist these regions.
Other Assistance ' Our Emergency Services Program is working to provide water and ice to sites housing refugees, and local staff are contacting retailers to request donations of food, ice, and water for staff and clients in local HHSC offices.
' We are providing instructions to Texas pharmacies filling prescriptions for Louisiana Medicaid participants. Those pharmacies will need to fax in enrollment forms posted at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/HCF/vdp/vdpstart.html. Pharmacies needing to verify eligibility can do so by calling 1-800-473-2783.
' Healthcare providers can verify Medicaid and CHIP enrollment information and procedures to process claims at 1-800-473-2783.
' The 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Network, a statewide telecommunications network is providing 24/7 evacuation, shelters and general information during the disaster. Due to the uncertainty of cell phone access from providers outside of Texas, the 2-1-1 Texas system also implemented a toll-free number. The official Hurricane Evacuation number is 1-888-312-4567. NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt MiCASA List http://www.adapt.org | 
