New and revised requirements for ASCs on Life Safety Code® and patient rights

Effective Aug. 1, 2024, ambulatory surgical centers will have the following new and revised requirements that align with U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions for Coverage (CfCs):

• Revised and new elements of performance (EPs) to ensure alignment with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Life Safety Code^® (NFPA 101-2012) and Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99-2012). (Life Safety Code is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, Massachusetts).
• Revised Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual (RI) EPs to:
  • Emphasize that the organization informs the patient of their rights.
  • Clarify who may exercise a patient’s rights on their behalf when a patient is unable to make decisions.

The new and revised requirements are posted on the Prepublication Standards page of The Joint Commission’s website and will publish online in the summer 2024 interim E-dition^® update to the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Ambulatory Care (CAMAC). They also will be included in the hard-copy and PDF versions of CAMAC (for those that purchase these products).

For more information, please contact The Joint Commission’s Standards and Survey Methods.

See the Prepublications Standards See the Prepublications Standards