Healthcare facilities and their staff play a key role in emergency preparedness efforts for all types of events, including natural or man-made disasters, pandemic outbreaks or terrorist attacks. The availability of healthcare is essential to accommodate the surge in demand for providing care related to any emergency. Still, many facilities struggle with the process of developing, maintaining and testing their emergency and continuity plans (ECPs) due to a lack of time and resources.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Rule for CMS Preparedness
Since the passing and implementation of the CMS Emergency Preparedness (EP) Rule, numerous healthcare organizations across the country have been diligently working to improve their crisis readiness and response capabilities. They know that come audit time (and it will eventually roll around), failure to comply with the ruling could spell serious trouble. Financial trouble, that is, as they could possibly lose vital Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
The CMS EP Rule covers four