FW: New Ruling: CPR/AEDs in Dialysis Clinics

[Guest guest]

From: Kate Asay

Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 2:14 PM

Subject: New Ruling: CPR/AEDs in Dialysis Clinics

<<CPR Certification.pdf>>

FYI -

CMS released a final rule on conditions for coverage for end-stage renal

disease (ESRD) facilities. It establishes conditions for coverage that

dialysis facilities must meet to be certified under the Medicare program.

One of the conditions for coverage addresses emergency preparedness (fire,

natural disasters, health emergencies, etc.). Under this provision,

dialysis facilities are now required to have a defibrillator or AED in the

facility. Dialysis facilities must comply with the requirement by October

14, 2008.

AHA strongly supported this requirement when it was first proposed by CMS

back in 2005 and the Association's support was repeatedly referenced by CMS

in the final rule. For example, when CMS explains why it is adopting this

requirement as part of the final rule it states " AHA pointed out that

defibrillators have been shown to save lives in a variety of settings

including office buildings, airplanes, and stadiums, where survival rates

without AEDs are otherwise 1 percent. AHA also noted that cardiac disease

accounts for 43 percent of deaths in ESRD patients. "

The final rule also follows another of AHA's recommendations. CMS had

originally proposed exempting smaller and rural facilities from the

defibrillator/AED requirement because it could be a financial burden. In

our 2005 comments to CMS, AHA urged the Agency not to exempt these

facilities. In the final rule, CMS reversed its proposal and decided not to

exempt these facilities stating that " because a small rural unit is likely

to be further from emergency services and/or ambulance services, and as

such, we believe that having a defibrillator or AED on hand would greatly

increase the chance of survival for a dialysis patient in the event of a

cardiac arrest. " CMS did not, however, follow AHA's recommendation that

CMS grant small and rural facilities a one-year grace period to research and

purchase an AED. CMS chose not to create a one-year grace period, stating

that the 180-day period before the regulation takes effect gives facilities

sufficient time to purchase a defibrillator/AED and train their staff.

The final rule also requires that dialysis staff maintain current CPR

certification. This section of the rule mentions AHA and AHA CPR training

repeatedly. It looks like this is due to another commenter who was

concerned with the cost associated with CPR certification and mentioned

AHA's program. I attached that section of the rule to this email.

Kate Asay

Training Network Account Manager -TEXAS

American Heart Association

2630 West Freeway, Suite 250

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Toll Free:

Direct:

Fax:

Email: kate.asay @heart.org

For CPR class information, please call 877 AHA-4CPR