The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Medicare & Medicaid Service has updated its fire and life safety requirements for facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements by adopting the 2000 edition of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code.
According to the January 10, 2003 Federal Register, the adoption of the updated edition of the code was intended to “... ensure that patients and staff continue to experience the highest degree of fire safety possible.”
CMS opted to apply the requirements of the updated safety code to all facilities, rather than exempt existing facilities.
