Long-term care facilities would have to meet more comprehensive emergency preparedness guidelines, under a newly proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), according to an article on the McKnight's website.
Recent events have shown that current emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare and Medicaid providers are inadequate, according to the 120-page proposed rule.
Long-term care facilities would be subject to similar requirements proposed for hospitals. These are based on the principle of “all-hazards planning,” the article said. This means planning should focus on creating the capacity to handle a spectrum of emergencies. The government has identified 15 scenarios for healthcare providers to use in assessing their risks, including natural disasters, cyber attacks and biological attacks.
Long-term care facilities would be responsible for meeting all the hospital requirements, with some specific adjustments and additions, according to the rule. Additions include accounting for missing residents and determining what information should be shared with residents and families.
Read the article.
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