The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued QSO-20-41-ALL Revised 05.26.2022 providing guidance regarding emergency and preparedness training and testing program exceptions.

Memorandum Summary

Emergency Preparedness Training and Testing Program Exemption
CMS regulations for Emergency Preparedness (EP) require facilities to conduct exercises to test the facility’s EP plan to ensure that it works and that staff are trained appropriately about their roles and the facility’s processes. During or after an actual emergency, the regulations allow for a 1-year exemption from the requirement that the facility perform testing exercises.

This worksheet presents guidance for surveyors, as well as providers and suppliers, with assessing a facility’s compliance with the EP requirements, in light of many of the response activities associated with the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).

As the PHE continues, many facilities continue to operate under their respective activated emergency plans; therefore, CMS is providing additional guidance related to the exercise requirements (full-scale/functional drills and exercises) for inpatient and outpatient providers/suppliers.

This exemption only applies to the next required full-scale exercise (not the exercise of choice), based on the facility’s 12-month exercise cycle. The cycle is determined by the facility (e.g., calendar, fiscal or another 12-month timeframe).

Questions
Questions about this memorandum should be addressed to QSOG_EmergencyPrep@cms.hhs.gov.