CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule Toolkits

In September 2016, the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) released a new emergency preparedness rule for 17 sectors of the U.S. health care system. The rule requires the affected provider types to demonstrate that they are doing risk assessments; writing appropriate plans; establishing policies and procedures; and training and testing their plans with staff and partners in the community.

Each of these toolkits gives facilities that fall under the new rule an overview of the requirements for their provider type, as well as some sample templates that can be used in their planning efforts. In topic areas where there was not a tool or template readily available, the toolkit offers planning worksheets that feature a list of example questions to help facilities think through relevant issues that can help them draft their plans and policies. For more information, contact your region's healthcare emergency readiness coalition coordinator.

As you may be aware, the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) serves as the state survey agency that oversees Wisconsin’s certification process on behalf of CMS.

DQA has provided information and background on the CMS rule, and the provider specific toolkits were produced independently and are intended for advisory purposes only.

None of the tools or assistance provided by DPH or the regional healthcare emergency readiness coalitions guarantees any outcome during survey visits.

Facilities are solely responsible for meeting CMS requirements.