Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Issue Date: January 05, 2018

Quality, Safety & Oversight Group- Emergency Preparedness General Guidance

Guidance for Surveyors, Providers and Suppliers for Natural Disaster Preparedness

Providers and suppliers, as well as State Survey Agencies and Regional Offices often face unique challenges regarding emergency preparedness and response to a variety of natural disasters to include hurricanes, and subsequent flooding.

The Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers regulation speaks to requirements for providers and suppliers to use an “all-hazards” approach based on their facilities risk-assessment. We believe planning for natural disasters assists in designing an Emergency Preparedness Plan, as well as ensuring patient and staff safety in the event of an emergency.

Hurricanes may cause a variety of hazards, such as care-related emergencies, equipment and power failures, interruptions in communications and operations as well as loss of normal supply essentials or structure of the facility. Hurricanes potentially also have additional subsequent events, such as severe weather which may last for a duration.

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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.