CMS will give providers a little more than one year to adhere to federal disaster preparedness requirements, but many facilities may struggle to meet the deadline, according to The New York Times.
Here are six things to know:
1. Through the rule, CMS is striving to get providers ready for emergencies, like pandemics, as well as preventing a patient care breakdown following catastrophic events, such as Hurricane Katrina.
2. The rule features provisions for 17 different types of providers.
3. Prior to the rule, some providers were not mandated to adhere to any emergency preparedness requirements for accreditation, while others only had to adhere to some.
4. Government figures put a $279 million price tag on putting the rule into effect.
5. Many organizations are worried they lack sufficient funds to prepare for compliance, to which CMS states, "planning for the protection and care of patients, clients, residents and staff during an emergency or a disaster is a good business practice."
6. The rules mandates organizations meet the National Fire Protection Association standards for testing generator equipment and also create a plan for steps to take when they lose power.
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