Definitions: Disasters and Public Health Crises
Disasters
For purposes of this document, disasters may be any unforeseen event that could result in loss of building access in part or in total, loss of utility service, disruption in system connectivity, or interruption in the services provided by HPSM operations. The role that the various departments of the health plan will play may vary depending on the type and extent of the disaster incurred.
Based on geographical location, HPSM may experience the following incidents:
- Natural disasters.
- Infrastructure failures.
- Security threats.
- Operational disruptions.
- Information technology security incidents.
Public health crises
For the purposes of this document, a “disruption of access to health care” is defined in accordance with § 422.100(m) as an interruption of interference in access to health care through the service area such that enrollees do not have the ability to access contracted providers, or contracted providers do not have the ability to provide needed services, causing Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to fail to meet their prevailing patterns of community health care delivery in the service area under § 422.112(a).