Final Emergency Preparedness Rule Calls for Integrated, “All-Hazard” Approach

​The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on September 8, 2016, issued a final rule establishing requirements for healthcare providers and suppliers to prepare for the event of natural and man-made disasters. CMS issued the final rule after review of existing Medicare regulatory requirements for emergency preparedness showed that the current requirements do not go far enough. The final rule addresses what CMS believes to be three key essentials for maintaining healthcare access during emergencies: safeguarding human resources, maintaining business continuity, and protecting physical resources. CMS said four core elements are central to an effective and comprehensive framework for emergency preparedness. First, to address risk assessment and emergency planning, CMS said facilities should use an integrated "all-hazard" approach to mitigate risk.