Dynamic List Information
Dynamic List Data
Title
EXPIRED: Guidance related to Emergency Preparedness- Exercise Exemption based on A Facility’s Activation of their Emergency Plan
Memo #
QSO-20-41-ALL EXPIRED
Posting Date
2025-08-04
Fiscal Year
2025
Title
EXPIRED
Memo Expiration Information:
Expiration Date: May 1, 2023
Expiration Information: Refer to QSO-25-23-ALL released July 30, 2025: Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)
• 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 one-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).
Memo Expiration Information:
Expiration Date: May 1, 2023
Expiration Information: Refer to QSO-25-23-ALL released July 30, 2025: Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)
• 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 one-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).