CMS SOM App. Z, Tag E-0032

§482.15(c)(3), §483.73(c)(3), §483.475(c)(3), §484.102(c)(3), §485.68(c)(3),

§485.625(c)(3), §485.727(c)(3), §485.920(c)(3), §486.360(c)(3), §491.12(c)(3),

§494.62(c)(3).

[(c) The [facility] must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness

communication plan that complies with Federal, State and local laws and must be

reviewed and updated at least every 2 years [annually for LTC facilities]. The

communication plan must include all of the following:

(3) Primary and alternate means for communicating with the following:

(i) [Facility] staff.

(ii) Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management

agencies.

*[For ICF/IIDs at §483.475(c):] (3) Primary and alternate means for communicating

with the ICF/IID’s staff, Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency

management agencies.

Interpretive Guidelines applies to: §403.748(c)(3), §416.54(c)(3), §418.113(c)(3),

§441.184(c)(3), §460.84(c)(3), §482.15(c)(3), §483.73(c)(3), §483.475(c)(3),

§484.102(c)(3), §485.68(c)(3), §485.625(c)(3), §485.727(c)(3), §485.920(c)(3),

§486.360(c)(3), §491.12(c)(3), §494.62(c)(3).

NOTE: This does not apply to Transplant Programs.

Facilities are required to have primary and alternate means of communicating with staff,

Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies. Facilities

have the discretion to utilize alternate communication systems that best meets their needs.

However, it is expected that facilities would consider pagers, cellular telephones, radio

transceivers (that is, walkie-talkies), and various other radio devices such as the NOAA

Weather Radio and Amateur Radio Operators’ (HAM Radio) systems, as well as satellite

telephone communications systems. We recognize that some facilities, especially in

remote areas, may have difficulty using some communication systems, such as cellular

phones, even in non-emergency situations, which should be outlined within their risk

assessment and addressed within the communications plan. It is expected these facilities

would address such challenges when establishing and maintaining a well-designed

communication system that will function during an emergency.

The communication plan should include procedures regarding when and how alternate

communication methods are used, and who uses them. In addition the facility should

ensure that its selected alternative means of communication is compatible with

communication systems of other facilities, agencies and state and local officials it plans

to communicate with during emergencies. For example, if State X local emergency

officials use the SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio program

and facility Y is trying to communicate with RACES, it may be prudent to consider if

these two alternate communication systems can communicate on the same frequencies.

Facilities should identify their primary and alternate means of communication in their

emergency preparedness communication plan. For instance, a primary means of

communication may be cellular phones, hard wire lines and the facilities intercom

system, whereas the facilities alternate means (given interruption of primary means) may

be the SHAred RESources.

Facilities may seek information about the National Communication System (NCS), which

offers a wide range of National Security and Emergency Preparedness communications

services, the Government Emergency Telecommunications Services (GETS), the

Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program, Wireless Priority Service (WPS),

and SHARES.

Other communication methods could include, but are not limited to,

satellite phones, radio, and short wave radio. The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency

Services (RACES) is an integral part of emergency management operations.

Survey Procedures

• Verify the communication plan includes primary and alternate means for

communicating with facility staff, Federal, State, tribal, regional and local emergency

management agencies by reviewing the communication plan.

• Ask to see the communications equipment or communication systems listed in the

plan.