The CMS EP Rule includes a provision for “integrated healthcare systems.” Integrated healthcare systems consist of multiple separately certified healthcare facilities under one parent organization. If a regulated facility is part of an integrated healthcare system that elects to have a unified and integrated emergency preparedness program (rather than have each facility separately conduct their own emergency preparedness program), then each facility and the parent organization must adhere to the integrated healthcare system requirements outlined in the final rule. This document outlines the information available to healthcare system emergency planners about the integrated healthcare system requirements in the final rule.
