US agency declares California wildfires a public health emergency

LOS ANGELES - The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Jan 10 declared a public health emergency for California to address the health impacts of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County.

The

wildfires have devastated Los Angeles neighbourhoods

on the east and west sides of the sprawling metropolis and have so far killed 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, with those figures expected to grow.

The declaration gives the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of people enrolled under Medicare and Medicaid insurance plans, said the HHS.

HHS said its Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is prepared to deploy responders, along with medical equipment and supplies, if requested by the state.

On Jan 8, President Joe Biden declared the fires a major disaster and said the US government would reimburse 100 per cent of the recovery for the next six months, and on Jan 10 reiterated his pledge to provide California with the resources it needs to fight the blazes and rebuild. REUTERS