The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (DRMA) has been reintroduced into the House of Representatives and Senate to provide assistance and relief for survivors of natural disasters, emergencies, and other events. H.R. 3990 and S. 2071 will provide essential resources, medical care, and employment coverage for survivors. This funding is essential to protect the effectiveness and efficiency of Medicaid, specifically for disaster and emergency victims.
The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act, introduced by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), ensures that Medicaid recipients can continue to receive medical services even after being displaced across state or county lines during a major disaster. Historically, people who are pushed from their neighborhoods and even their states after a natural disaster must then contend with reapplying for new services in the place they relocate to. While reapplying for services, the person is left indefinitely without vital health services. This bill will provide a continuity of care when the Medicaid recipient is unexpectedly displaced because of a disaster.