Emergency Preparedness Requirements

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the Emergency Preparedness Interpretive Guidance that becomes effective Nov. 15, 2017. Starting in November, all facilities will be required to have an emergency plan that addresses the items related to an all-hazards disaster emergency situation based on a facility risk assessment. The all-hazards approach integrates the planning components of preparedness, response, and recovery in a single plan, with any necessary appendices to address special circumstances or events. It is an emergency preparedness plan that is more comprehensive than what had been previously expected of health care facilities and will be a focus of the nursing home survey.

LeadingAge has prepared a document that outlines specific areas that will be focused on as part of the new requirements. In addition, LeadingAge NY has scheduled a series of in-person training sessions around the state on both the new Life Safety Code and Emergency Preparedness requirements.

Contact: Elliott Frost, efrost@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8832