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1. Who do I contact if I have questions on whether the Preparedness Rule applies to me?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is your primary contact point for questions regarding their Emergency Preparedness Rule. Neither Frederick County Emergency Management nor the Frederick County Health Department can provide guidance on compliance.

If you have general questions on emergency preparedness or specific questions on resources available in Frederick County, you may email EM@FrederickCountyMD.gov and staff will do their best to assist you.

2. Does Frederick County require a copy of our facility's emergency plan?

Currently, neither the Division of Emergency Management nor the Frederick County Health Department require facilities submit their emergency plan for review or file nor do we provide approval of plans.

3. Where can I find information on community based exercises?

Frederick County does not currently have plans for any exercises that will assist meeting the exercise requirement of the CMS Preparedness Rule. Any future community based exercises sponsored by Frederick County will be listed on the CMS Preparedness Rule web page under the training/exercises tab.

You may wish to contact other healthcare facilities in your area subject to the Preparedness Rule to collaborate on an exercise. Sample tabletop exercise scenarios you can adapt to your facilities needs can be found on our CMS Preparedness Rule web page under the training/exercises tab.

4. I am required to coordinate with the local emergency management and health department. Who do I contact?

Part of your communication plan should include telephone numbers to contact the Division of Emergency Management and the Frederick County Health Department should it be necessary during an emergency. In any life-safety emergency, both agencies can be reached by calling 9-1-1. For urgent, but not critical emergency needs after normal business hours, you can call the non-emergency 24 hour number at 301-600-1603.

During normal business hours with non life-safety or critical needs you may reach us at the following numbers:

• Division of Emergency Management 301-600-6790
• Department of Emergency Preparedness 301-600-1746
• Health Department, Public Health Preparedness 301-600-6052

If you require documentation that you have coordinated with us for your records, please email your communication plan to EM@frederickcountymd.gov. Staff will review the communication plan to ensure our contact information is correct, then respond to confirm or request correction.

Long term care facilities and dialysis centers have additional coordination requirements! If you are with a dialysis center or long-term care facility and need more information on your coordination requirements, contact the Health Department, Office of Public Health Preparedness at 301-600-6052.

5. What are the CMS requirements for my facility?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created a crosswalk which provides a simplified overview of requirements by facility type. For your convenience you can find a copy of that document here.

If you have specific questions about what is required for your facility, contact Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services directly.