2023 Hawaii Wildfires Situation Report #3
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Healthcare Ready's Posture
Healthcare Ready is ENGAGED for this event. We are monitoring potential concerns for supply chain disruptions and impacts on healthcare services on our response page, listing resources and previous situation reports.
Highlights
Healthcare Ready has activated our EOC and Hotline for patients to call for support in navigating their personal healthcare needs. This compliments our activation of www.rxopen.org which maps the status of pharmacies, Community Health Centers, Dialysis Clinics.
Situation Overview
- As of 8/22, there are four active fires burning on Maui:
- Pulehu/Kihei fire: declared 100% contained on 8/12.
- Lahaina fire: remains 90% contained. Estimated 2,170 acres.
- Olinda fire: remains 85% contained. Estimated 1,081 acres.
- Kula fire: remains 85% contained. Estimated 202 acres.
- As of 8/22, the number of confirmed fatalities is 115, with 100% of the single-story, residential properties searched in the Lahaina area. FEMA’s mission priority remains search and rescue, fire containment, and damage assessments in the impacted area. The mission priority will likely shift to recovery starting next week.
Key Updates
Rx Open Data
- Rx Open is active for the ongoing wildfires affecting Hawaii and is a game-changer in disaster response. This resource empowers individuals and families by providing updated information on the operating status of crucial healthcare facilities, including pharmacies, dialysis centers, and community health centers in areas affected by disasters.
- 7 total pharmacies across all locations in Hawaii are reporting Closed or Unknown (2.3% of total pharmacies in the state).
- In Maui, two closures are long term closures, one reported by CVS, and one reported by Walgreens
- Currently, we are tracking 5 Dialysis Centers on Rx Open.
- Two of four total dialysis centers in Maui are currently Closed, with the remainder of dialysis centers in the state reporting as Open.
- Rx Open is also tracking multiple healthcare delivery centers, including clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Substance Use Disorder Treatment facilities and one pediatric center.
Emergency Prescription Assistance Program Activated
- EPAP, the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program, is a federally sponsored program made available to non-insured patients in affected ZIP codes for specific medical equipment, vaccinations, and prescriptions.
- To enroll as a patient, you can call the EPAP hotline at 1-855-793-7470. Information necessary to provide is:
- First and last name
- DOB
- SSN (not required to receive a member ID number, but they will ask for it)
- ZIP Code (must be a resident of the identified ZIP Code)
- To enroll as a pharmacy, pharmacies can enroll through Express Scripts. Pharmacies do not need to be in the identified ZIP codes to enroll in and accept EPAP.
- Most prescriptions are covered under EPAP, including durable medical equipment (DME), such as canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs. However, for these items to be covered under EPAP, they must be purchased through a retail pharmacy.
- Eligible patients are authorized to receive a 30-day supply of their prescriptions and a renewal as long as EPAP is activated. Patients need to have a new or existing prescription from a licensed physician to have their prescriptions covered by EPAP and filled by a participating pharmacy.
Impacts to Health Care and Supply Chain
Impacts to Health Care
- As of 8/23, all emergency shelters have been closed, and individuals who are seeking refuge have been moved to non-congregate housing. Upwards of 2,400 individuals are being housed in 10 hotel locations on Maui:
- Lahaina
- Hyatt Regency Maui
- Royal Lahaina
- Honua Kai Outrigger
- Outrigger Kaʻanapali Beach Resort
- Aston Ka‘anapali Shores
- Westin Maui
- Wailea
- Fairmont Kea Lani
- Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
- Kahului
- Maui Beach Hotel
- Maui Seaside Hotel
- Lahaina
- Based on the HHS emPOWER Map, which displays the total number of at-risk electricity-dependent Medicare beneficiaries, Maui County accounts for 33,889 Medicare beneficiaries. Of those individuals, there are 791 at-risk beneficiaries.
- It is critical that power is restored and/or generators are in place to ensure that individuals who depend on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment can continue accessing their forms of health care.
- As of 8/23, Kaiser Permanente is offering medical services to the public at two locations in Lahaina:
- Lahaina Gateway Center (Mobile Health Vehicle)
- Provides first aid, pediatric services, and OB/GYN services.
- Hyatt Regency Lahaina (Maui Suites, Promenade Lower Level)
- Provides first aid services.
- Both locations are open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. HST. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. HST. And closed on Sundays.
- Lahaina Gateway Center (Mobile Health Vehicle)
- The county-facilitated distribution sites will be transitioning to long-term aid. Moving forward, the sites will focus on food and water.
- West Maui
- Lahaina Gateway
- Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. HST on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Central Maui
- Queen Ka’ahumanu Center will shift to a donation drop-off site.
- Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. HST on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- “Feed My Sheep” Mobile Distribution Sites in Kahului, Wailuku, and Lahaina
- 150 South Pu’unene Ave., Kahului
- 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. HST on Saturday
- Parking lot next to Living Way Church at the corner of Market and Mokuhau streets in Happy Valley, Wailuku
- 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. HST on Friday
- The Lahaina distribution site is still to be determined.
- 150 South Pu’unene Ave., Kahului
- West Maui
- A Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) replacement benefit is available for recipients who experienced loss of food between 8/14 and 9/15.
- The amount allotted to individuals will not exceed the 8/2023 monthly allotment for the household.
- There is free assistance for SNAP at mRelief, a nonprofit organization that helps individuals sign up for Food Stamps.
- Hawaii CARES 988 is a 24/7 support service for help with crisis, mental health, and substance abuse. It can be accessed via call or text at 988 (TTY 711).
- There are currently three shuttle services providing free transportation to individuals in West Maui:
- Ka’anapali Circulator Shuttle
- For individuals housed at any of the American Red Cross (ARC) hotel shelters such as Hyatt Regency Maui, Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort, Royal Lahaina, Honua Kai, and Westin Maui.
- Available daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. HST.
- Maui Economic Opportunity Human Services
- For low-income and rural residents, youth, persons with disabilities, and individuals living outside the paratransit service area seeking access to health care.
- Available Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. HST.
- Maui Bus ADA Paratransit Buses
- Available daily from 5:30am to 10pm HST, in conjunction with Maui Bus routes.
- Both Maui Economic Opportunity Human Services and Maui Bus ADA Paratransit Buses require registration and approval. Applications can be found here, and reservations can be made by calling 1-808-877-7651.
- Ka’anapali Circulator Shuttle
- Uber is also providing rides (up to $40) to individuals in hotel shelters on Maui.
- The promo code, “MAUI23” should be applied prior to requesting the ride.
- Valid for UberX or UberXL.
Critical Healthcare Infrastructure
- As of 8/22, an unsafe water advisory remains in effect for Lahaina and Upper Kula.
- Four dialysis centers are located on Maui; two are closed for an extended period with no estimated timeline to resume operations.
- Kahana Dialysis, Lahaina, HI (open)
- DaVita Rainbow Wailuku Dialysis, Wailuku, HI (open)
- DaVita Rainbow Dialysis Lahaina, Lahaina, HI (closed)
- Fresenius Kidney Care Maui Ckd, Wailuku, HI (closed)
Supply Chain and Logistics Update
- As of 8/21, Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles reported no impacts to port operations due to Hurricane Hilary.
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About Healthcare Ready
Healthcare Ready is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to ensure patient access to healthcare in times of disaster, emergency, and disease outbreaks. We leverage unique relationships with government, nonprofit and medical supply chains to build and enhance the resiliency of communities before, during and after disasters. Learn more about Healthcare Ready
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