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Papers of the Week


2019 Nov 08


BMC Health Serv Res


19


1

Hurricanes and healthcare: a case report on the influences of Hurricane Maria and managed Medicare in treating a Puerto Rican resident.

Authors

Mellgard G, Abramson D, Okamura C, Weerahandi H
BMC Health Serv Res. 2019 Nov 08; 19(1):818.
PMID: 31703682.

Abstract

While Medicare is a federal health insurance program, managed Medicare limits access to healthcare services to networks within states or territories. However, if a natural disaster requires evacuation, displaced patients are at risk of losing coverage for their benefits. Previous literature has discussed the quality of managed Medicare plans within Puerto Rico but has not addressed the adequacy of this coverage if residents are displaced to the continental United States. We explore Hurricane Maria's impact on a resident of Puerto Rico with chronic health problems, and the challenges he faces seeking healthcare in New York.