CMS finalizes emergency preparedness rule
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the new emergency preparedness requirements, to go in effect in 60 days.
ASHE, a personal membership group of the AHA, will be thoroughly analyzing the rule in coming days and will be providing additional member resources. ASHE is currently working to produce a crosswalk showing members the differences between the new CMS rule, NFPA 99 requirements, and Joint Commission emergency preparedness standards.
Medicare and Medicaid participating providers and suppliers to meet the following four common and well-known industry best-practice standards.
Emergency plan. Based on a risk assessment, develop an emergency plan using an all-hazards approach focusing on capacities and capabilities that are critical to preparedness for a full spectrum of emergencies or disasters specific to the location of a provider or supplier.
Policies and procedures. Develop and implement policies and procedures based on the plan and risk assessment.
Communication plan. Develop and maintain a communication plan that complies with both federal and state laws. Patient care must be well-coordinated within the facility, across health care providers and with state and local public health departments and emergency systems.
Training and testing program. Develop and maintain training and testing programs, including initial and annual trainings, and conduct drills and exercises or participate in an actual incident that tests the plan.
The rule applies to 17 different provider types, including hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, long-term care facilities, intermediate care facilities and rural health clinics.
The rule, which is 650 pages long, includes background on the original CMS proposal; a summary of public comments and CMS's response to those comments; and the final regulations. The regulations for hospitals begin on page 584. A section titled "provisions of the final regulations," which begins on page 269, outlines differences between the proposed rule and the final rule.
