Clock Starts on New Disaster Readiness Rules for Medical Providers

Some 72,315 health care providers have just over a year to meet new federal disaster preparedness requirements, according to the New York Times. 

The rules, which were released last month by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, are aimed at preventing the kind of care breakdowns that occurred during hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. 

The providers range from hospitals and nursing homes to dialysis facilities and care homes, the newspaper reported. 

The goal is to make it more likely that facilities will be able to stay open and care for patients during emergency situations, Dr. Nicole Lurie of the Department of Health and Human Services said. 

The cost of putting the regulations into effect is estimated to be over $279 million, according to the Times. The requirements could be particularly burdensome for smaller facilities, especially home care.

Read more at NY Times.com.