CMS: Survey and Certification Effective Healthcare Provider Emergency Planning |
CMS's webpage dedicated to healthcare provider guidance on emergency preparedness.
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Planning and Response |
CMS Waivers during Emergency Declarations |
At the request of the Governor of an affected State, the President may, under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act, declare a major disaster or emergency if an event is beyond the combined response capabilities of the State and affected local governments. If a Presidential declaration occurs, the HHS Secretary may, under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, declare that a Public Health Emergency (PHE) exists in the affected State. Once a PHE is declared, section 1135 of the Social Security Act authorizes the Secretary, among other things, to temporarily modify or waive certain Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and HIPAA requirements as determined necessary by CMS. This is a link to the CMS website dedicated to Emergency Waivers. |
Disaster Recovery |
CMS Survey Tool for the Emergency Preparedness Rule (E-Tags) |
This is a link to the CMS Surveyor's Tool, which accompanied the 6-2-17 advance copy of the Interpretive Guidelines for the CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule.
The CMS Survey & Certification Memo (Ref: S&C 17-29-ALL) accompanying the tool states: "Similar to how Life Safety Code (LSC) requirements have a set of K-Tags that are utilized for citations for multiple provider and supplier types, the emergency preparedness requirements will have a set of tags that will be utilized to cite non-compliance for all 17 provider and supplier types included in the final rule. The tags for emergency preparedness will be “E” Tags and accessible to both health and safety surveyors and LSC Surveyors. State survey agencies will have discretion regarding whether the LSC or health and safety surveyors will conduct the emergency preparedness surveys. Note: Surveying for compliance with the emergency preparedness requirements does not begin before November 15, 2017." |
Planning and Response |
CMS State Operations Manual: Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities |
Survey protocols and Interpretive Guidelines are established in the State Operations Manual for Long Term Care Facilities to provide guidance to personnel conducting surveys; they serve to clarify and/or explain the intent of the regulations and all surveyors are required to use them in assessing compliance with Federal requirements. |
Planning and Response |
CMS List of State Survey Agency Contacts for Licensure of Healthcare Facilities |
This is a link to the CMS page listing, by state, the agency responsible for licensing healthcare facilities. The list is called the CMS List of State Survey Agency Contacts. |
Staying Connected |
CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule (Effective Date: November 2016) |
On September 16, 2016, the final CMS rule on Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers was published (Federal Register Vol. 81, No. 180). This rule affects all 17 provider and supplier types eligible for participation in Medicare. The rule became effective on November 15, 2016. However, health care providers and suppliers affected by this rule have until November 15, 2017 to implement the new requirements and be in full compliance. Surveyors will begin evaluating the new requirements after November 15, 2017. Providers and suppliers found out of compliance with the new regulations will be cited for non-compliance and must follow standard procedures for correcting deficiencies. |
Planning and Response |
CMS Emergency Preparedness for Healthcare Providers - Resources & Links |
To assist providers and suppliers in meeting the requirements of the new CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule, CMS has developed a website that contains various resources such as checklists, links to emergency preparedness agencies, planning templates and many other valuable resources. In addition, the website also provides a State-by-State listing of Health Care Coalitions which are available to States to connect with knowledgeable health care emergency preparedness officials. |
Planning and Response |