NFPA standards open for public comment

NFPA standards open for public comment 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) manages more than 300 codes and standards and works with more than 250 technical committees in its codes and standards development process. The NFPA recently opened eight standards for public input, including the first draft of the 2029 edition of NFPA 3000, Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program, and the first draft of the 2028 edition of NFPA 418, Standard for Heliports and Vertiports. Commenting for the standards closes Sept. 3, 2026, and Jan. 7, 2026, respectively. Other standards open for input and the steps to make public inputs can be found by visiting the link in this column.

The Joint Commission updates life safety standards

The Joint Commission updated its elements of performance (EPs) for ambulatory surgical centers with new and revised standards that align with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Conditions for Coverage. The new and revised EPs ensure alignment with the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, 2012 edition. The updates also include revisions to the Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual Chapter to emphasize that accredited health care organizations must inform patients of their rights and to clarify who may exercise a patient’s rights on their behalf when the patient is unable to make their own health care decisions.

IAHSS updates drug diversion guideline

The International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) released an update to industry guideline 07.02.01 “Drug Diversion,” regarding the security of such processes within the health care environment. The guideline was originally developed by the IAHSS Council on Guidelines and includes additional information such as medications brought from home by patients, the need to properly secure wasted medications, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in conducting investigations and an updated list of valuable references. It guides health care facilities on the implementation of safeguards and administration of appropriate drug control methodologies, including the investigation of controlled substance diversion or theft.

CMS updates signage related to patient rights

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued updated signage that Medicare-participating hospitals may use to meet the signage requirements at §489.20(q)(1) and (2), which reference the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). While the new signage is not required, hospitals are encouraged to use the CMS poster in emergency departments and other hospital settings. EMTALA was enacted by Congress in 1986 to ensure public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay. Section 1867 of the Social Security Act imposes specific obligations on Medicare-participating hospitals that offer emergency services to provide a medical screening examination when a request is made for emergency examination or treatment.