CMS Proposed Rule – Disaster Preparedness for all Medicare/Medicaid Providers

On Friday, December 27, CMS issued a proposed rule entitled Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers.  According to CMS (as published in the Federal Register):  This proposed rule would establish national emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare- and Medicaid-participating providers and suppliers to ensure that they adequately plan for both natural and man-made disasters, and coordinate with federal, state, tribal, regional, and local emergency preparedness systems. It would also ensure that these providers and suppliers are adequately   prepared to meet the needs of patients, residents, clients, and participants during disasters and emergency situations.
Generally, the proposed standard require providers to develop and maintain: (1) an emergency plan based on a risk assessment and using an all-hazards approach focusing on capacities and capabilities; (2) policies and procedures based on the plan and risk assessment; (3)  a communication plan to coordinate patient care within the facility, across health care providers and with state and local public health departments and emergency systems; and (4) training and testing programs, including initial and annual trainings, conducting drills and exercises or participating in an actual incident that tests the plan. 

Comments on the proposed rule are due on February 25, 2014.  AHCA will be submitting comments to CMS, and if you would like to have your comments/issues/concerns included in ACHA’s comments, please submit them to Lyn Bentley (lbentley@ahca.org) and Peggy Connorton (pconnorton@ahca.org) by February 7.  IHCA will be coordinating its comments with AHCA.