After reviewing current Medicare emergency preparedness regulations for providers, CMS found requirements were insufficient to handle the complexity of disaster situations many hospitals have recently encountered.
Moving forward, hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs must meet the following four industry best practices:
- Emergency plan. Hospitals must develop a contingency plan to manage a full spectrum of emergencies.
- Policies and procedures. Hospitals must develop and implement policies and procedures based on risk assessment.
- Communication plan. Hospitals must develop and maintain a communication plan that complies with both federal and state law. Patient care must be well-coordinated within the facility, across healthcare providers and with state and local public health departments and emergency systems.
- Training and testing program. Hospitals must maintain training and testing programs, including initial and annual trainings, and conduct drills and exercises that test plans.
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