In a press release on Friday, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a public health emergency as wildfires push tens of thousands from their homes in Eastern Washington.
According to the governor, the declaration will allow increased and faster access to health or emergency care for those impacted by the fires.
In the statement, the governor said the declaration will “speed refills or replacements for medication and medical supplies, reduce paperwork and authorization requirements for providers, allow for alternative care settings and temporarily relax other requirements.”
The public health emergency changes will apply, according to the statement, to the same areas covered by the federal statement of emergency put in place August 4th: Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
In the statement, Governor Ferguson said that he spoke with Health Secretary Robert Kennedy and encouraged the secretary to approve his request for the declaration.
“This declaration allows us to eliminate red tape and helps impacted Washingtonians get the services they need faster,” Ferguson said.
According to the statement, the emergency declaration allows for the following changes in areas impacted by the wildfires:
- People who have been displaced can receive home health services in alternative locations, such as temporary shelters, hotels, and other places.
- Individuals who have lost respiratory or other medication or medical supplies can get replacements much faster.
- Hospitals can set up temporary or alternative care sites or locations to treat patients, including virtual options.
- Pre-authorization requirements for medications or treatments can be waived.
In a statement Friday, the Washington State Hospital Association thanked the governor and Health Secretary Kennedy for the emergency declaration.
The association added the declaration will allow hospitals and emergency departments to make the following changes in a time of crisis:
- Temporarily add beds and open treatment sites without going through the normal approval process.
- Discharge patients more quickly when they no longer need hospital-level care.
- Allowing pharmacies to store and distribute medications at alternative care sites without obtaining additional licenses.
- Allowing greater sharing of patient information to support family reunification.
- Providing the Department of Health greater flexibility to extend health care professional licenses during the emergency and to permit military medical personnel to assist in civilian health care settings more easily.
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