Document ID: FEMA-2010-0049-0001
Agency: fema
Document Type: Notice
Title: Recovery Policy, RP9525.4, Emergency Medical Care and Medical Evacuations
Posted Date: 2010-08-13T04:00Z

[Federal Register: August 13, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 156)]
[Notices]               
[Page 49507-49508]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au10-77]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2010-0049]

 
Recovery Policy, RP9525.4, Emergency Medical Care and Medical 
Evacuations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting 
comments on RP9525.4, Emergency Medical Care and Medical Evacuations. 
This is an existing policy that is scheduled for review to ensure that 
the Recovery Directorate policies are consistent with current laws and 
regulations. This policy identifies the extraordinary emergency medical 
care and medical evacuation expenses that are eligible for 
reimbursement under the Category B, Emergency Protective Measures 
provision of the Public Assistance Program following an emergency or 
major disaster declaration.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 13, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by docket ID FEMA-2010-0049 and 
may be submitted by one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. Please note that this proposed 
policy is not a rulemaking and the Federal Rulemaking Portal is being 
utilized only as a mechanism for receiving comments.
    Mail: Rules Docket Manager, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20472-3100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Atkinson, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, 
Deborah.Atkinson@dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation

    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or 
material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will 
include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting 
this information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy Act 
notice, which can be viewed by clicking on the ``Privacy Notice'' link 
in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.
    You may submit your comments and material by the methods specified 
in the ADDRESSES section above. Please submit your comments and any 
supporting material by only one means to avoid the receipt and review 
of duplicate submissions.
    Docket: The proposed policy is available in docket ID FEMA-2010-
0049. For access to the docket to read background documents or comments 
received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
www.regulations.gov and search for the docket ID. Submitted comments 
may also be inspected at FEMA, Office of Chief Counsel, Room 835, 500 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.

II. Background

    Sections 403 and 502 of the Stafford Act authorize Federal agencies 
to provide assistance, including emergency medical care, essential to 
meeting immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major 
disaster or emergency, respectively. When the emergency medical 
delivery system within the designated disaster area is destroyed or 
severely compromised by a disaster event, assistance for emergency 
medical care and medical evacuations of disaster survivors from 
eligible public and private nonprofit hospitals and custodial care 
facilities is available to eligible Public Assistance applicants 
through Public Assistance grants, Direct Federal Assistance (DFA), or a 
combination of both. When the State and local governments lack the 
capability to perform or contract for eligible emergency medical care 
or

[[Page 49508]]

medical evacuation work, they may request Direct Federal Assistance 
from FEMA. Usually, FEMA will task the appropriate Federal agencies via 
mission assignments to perform the requested emergency work. FEMA may 
task the Department of Health and Human Services to provide emergency 
medical assistance when requested by the State.
    The draft updated policy proposes that labor costs for personnel 
activated and deployed to support the performance of eligible emergency 
medical care and medical evacuations of patients be eligible for 
reimbursement.
    FEMA seeks comment on the proposed policy, which is available 
online at http://www.regulations.gov in docket ID FEMA-2010-0049. Based 
on the comments received, FEMA may make appropriate revisions to the 
proposed policy. Although FEMA will consider any comments received in 
the drafting of the final policy, FEMA will not provide a response to 
comments document. When or if FEMA issues a final policy, FEMA will 
publish a notice of availability in the Federal Register and make the 
final policy available at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 5121-5207; 44 CFR part 206.

David J. Kaufman,
Director, Office of Policy and Program Analysis, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2010-20069 Filed 8-12-10; 8:45 am]
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