CMS Increases Hospital Emergency Preparedness Requirements
The Center for Medicaid and Medicare released a final rule in September 2016 that would require increased preparedness at hospitals accepting Medicaid/Medicare payments.
In September 2016, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services released an update to the requirement for hospitals accepting payments from CMS to improve their disaster and emergency preparedness with new standards.
Specifically, the updated rule (impacting 42 CFR 402-494) will allow for a bit more flexibility in the planning and exercises at a hospital. For example, facilities would be allowed to omit certain planning requirements based upon who they serve (i.e. day-time only would not be required to have a substance plan that covers a 24-hour clock). That and there would be a bit more flexibility in choosing what types of exercises they could use to meet the annual requirements.
The new rule went into effect on November 15, 2016.
For more information, see the links below.