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

Issue Date: January 05, 2018

Quality, Safety & Oversight Group - Emergency Preparedness General Guidance

During public health emergencies and crises, providers and suppliers face a variety of challenges, including basic patient care and treatment, infection control, waste management, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, and more. Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) can range from influenza and other virus outbreaks, like COVID-19, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the H1N1 pandemic, H3N2v , Zika, and others that reemphasize the need for disease control, prevention, and preparedness. CMS’ emergency preparedness regulations require providers and suppliers to develop and maintain their emergency preparedness program based on an all-hazards approach, which includes EIDs. 

The Downloads and Related Links sections include a variety of resources about EIDs, which may assist providers and suppliers in their planning and preparedness efforts. We also encourage providers and suppliers to review the State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix Z, which provides insight to preparedness for EIDs.

Note: References to non-CMS sources or sites on the Internet are provided as a service and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CMS or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CMS is not responsible for the content or accessibility of pages found at these sites. URL addresses were current as of the date of this publication.

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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.