Life Safety Code

Publication date:

November 4, 2016 - A proposed rule (CMS-3334-P) was published to update fire safety standards for Medicare and Medicaid participating dialysis facilities that do not provide one or more exits to the outside at grade level from the patient treatment area level.  This rule will also adopt the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code and eliminate references in our regulations to all earlier editions of the Life Safety Code, and adopt the 2012 edition of the Health Care Facilities Code, with some exceptions.  CMS is proposing to remove the LSC requirements for dialysis facilities that are located adjacent to industrial high hazard areas, as they are not permitted to be in this type of facility, so there is no need for regulations in this area.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-11-04/pdf/2016-26583.pdf

May 4, 2016 - A final rule (CMS-3277-F) was published to update fire safety requirements for hospitals; long term care (LTC) facilities; critical access hospitals (CAHs); inpatient hospice facilities; programs for all inclusive care for the elderly (PACE); religious non-medical healthcare institutions (RNHCI); ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs); and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID).  This final rule adopts provisions of the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code (LSC) as well as provisions of the NFPA's 2012 edition of the Health Care Facilities Code.  This rule is effective July 5, 2016.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-05-04/pdf/2016-10043.pdf

Effective date:

   November 2016 proposed rule not effective.

   May 2016 final rule published effective July 5, 2016.    

CFR section numbers and descriptions:

    42 CFR 403.744- Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institutions, Condition of Participation: Life safety from fire

    42 CFR 416.44- Ambulatory Surgical Services, Condition for Coverage: Environment

    42 CFR 418.100- Hospice Care, Condition of Participation: Hospices that provide inpatient care directly

    42 CFR 460.71- Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Physical environment

    42 CFR 482.41- Hospitals, Condition of Participation: Physical environment

    42 CFR 483.70- Requirements for States and Long Term Care Facilities, Physical environment

    42 CFR 483.472- Intermediate Care Facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities

    42 CFR 485.623- Critical Access Hospitals, Condition of Participation: Physical plant and environment

    42 CFR 494.60-  Conditions for Coverage for End-stage Renal Disease Facilities, Condition: Physical Environment

Brief description of document(s):

These providers are required to meet the specifications of the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code and the 2012 Health Care Facilities Code with certain exceptions.