USAID announced today thatthe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has activated additional components of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to help U.S. hospitals provide care to critically ill survivors ofthe Haiti earthquake.

Hospitals that admit NDMS patients are guaranteed reimbursement at 110% of Medicare rates by the federal government.

"Medical evacuations have only been used in limited instances where patients had medical needs that could not be met in Haiti," said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. "We are committed to working with Haitian people and the Government of Haiti to create long-term care facilities in-country. Continued medical assistance is critical to these efforts. We will continue to work across the whole of the U.S. Government and with international partners, and NGO partners to ensure the well-being of the Haitian people is the foremost priority."

This activation allows U.S. hospitals that treat Haitian patients evacuated with life-threatening injuries due to the earthquake and receive federal reimbursement for the costs they incur.

"States have been tremendous partners in the response effort to the devastating earthquake in Haiti," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "This is part of our larger strategy, working with the government of Haiti and our international partners, to help increase the capacity both inside Haiti, as well as in the U.S. and other countries, to help Haitians who need critical medical assistance."

HHS has been working with the government of Haiti and international partners to provide life-saving care to survivors of the earthquake. HHS previously activated the field medical care component of NDMS which has enabled approximately 270 health and medical personnel to deploy to Haiti as part of Disaster Medical Assistance Teams.