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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9872-9873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03710]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Parts 403, 416, 418, 441, 460, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 491, 
and 494

[CMS-3178-N]

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Emergency Preparedness 
Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and 
Suppliers; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for the Emergency 
Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating 
Providers and Suppliers proposed rule, which was published in the 
December 27, 2013 Federal Register (78 FR 79082 through 79200). The 
comment period for the proposed rule, which would have ended on 
February 25, 2014, is extended to March 31, 2014.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published in the 
December 27, 2013 Federal Register (78 FR 79082 through 79200) is 
extended to March 31, 2014.

ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-3178-P. Because 
of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by 
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
    You may submit comments in one of four ways (please choose only one 
of the ways listed):
    1. You may submit electronic comments on this regulation to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the ``Submit a comment'' instructions.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address ONLY:
    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Attention: CMS-3178-P, P.O. Box 8013, Baltimore, MD 
21244-8013.
    Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received 
before the close of the comment period.
    3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to 
the following address ONLY:
    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Attention: CMS-3178-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    4. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or 
courier) your written comments before the close of the comment period 
to either of the following addresses:
    a. For delivery in Washington, DC--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 445-G, Hubert 
H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20201.
    (Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building 
is not readily available to persons without Federal government 
identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in 
the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-
in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing 
by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being 
filed.)
    b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, 
please call telephone number (410) 786-7195 in advance to schedule your 
arrival with one of our staff members.
    Comments mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand 
or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment 
period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janice Graham, (410) 786-8020, Mary 
Collins, (410) 786-3189, Diane Corning, (410) 786-8486, Ronisha Davis, 
(410) 786-6882, Lisa Parker, (410) 786-4665.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the December 27, 2013 Federal Register 
(78 FR 79082 through 79200), we published the Emergency Preparedness 
Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and 
Suppliers proposed rule that proposes to revise and, for some 
providers/suppliers, establish, emergency preparedness requirements. 
These emergency preparedness requirements would apply to 17 provider 
and supplier types with various capabilities and capacities to comply 
with the proposed requirements. The proposed rule, if finalized, would 
require providers and suppliers to meet these four broad standards:
     To develop an emergency plan based on a risk assessment 
that utilizes an all-hazards approach.
     To develop and implement policies and procedures based on 
the plan and their risk assessment.
     To develop and maintain a communication plan to locate 
patients and/or residents and address their health care needs during 
and after a disaster. The plan must comply with both Federal and State 
laws and it must be well-coordinated within the facility and across 
health care providers.
     To provide personnel training and to test their emergency 
program annually.
    In the proposed rule, we proposed to establish national emergency 
preparedness requirements for Medicare and Medicaid participating 
providers and suppliers to ensure that they plan for both natural and 
man-made disasters and coordinate with federal, state, tribal, 
regional, and local emergency preparedness systems. These requirements 
would ensure that these providers and suppliers are adequately prepared 
to meet the needs of patients,

[[Page 9873]]

residents, clients, and participants during disasters and emergency 
situations.
    We have received inquiries from industry organizations regarding 
the short turn-around time to canvass their membership for input on 
this proposed rule. One organization stated that they needed additional 
time to respond to the rule due to current regional emergencies that 
are requiring the attention of emergency management personnel who would 
likely be interested in commenting on the proposal. Because of the 
scope of the proposed rule, and since we have specifically requested 
the public's comments on various aspects of the rule in an attempt to 
benefit from the vast experiences of emergency management and provider/
supplier communities, we believe that it is important to allow ample 
time for all sections of the public to comment on this proposed rule. 
Therefore, we are extending the comment period until March 31, 2014.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.778, Medical 
Assistance Program; No. 93.773, Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and 
Program No. 93.774, Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: February 12, 2014.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-03710 Filed 2-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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