​CMS Publishes Final Rule on Fire Safety Requirements for Certain HealthCare Facilities

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a final rule (https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection) to update health care facilities’ fire protection guidelines to improve protections for all Medicare beneficiaries in facilities from fire.

The new guidelines apply to hospitals; long term care (LTC) facilities; critical access hospitals (CAHs); inpatient hospice facilities; programs for all inclusive care for the elderly (PACE); religious non-medical healthcare institutions (RNHCI); ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs); and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID).

This rule adopts updated provisions of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code (LSC) as well as provisions of the NFPA’s 2012 edition of the Health Care Facilities Code. CMS strives to promote health and safety for all patients, family and staff in every provider and supplier setting. Fire safety requirements are an important part of this effort.

“This final rule meets health care facilities’ desire to modernize their environments while also ensuring the necessary steps to provide patients and staff with the appropriate level of safety,” said Kate Goodrich, MD MHS, Director Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, CMS. “Health care facilities can now be more home-like while ensuring that the most modern fire protection practices are in place.”

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Source: LARA News and Updates