New regs for Tuesday: Emergency plans for hospitals

Healthcare, environmental and financial regulations are all set to be published on Tuesday in the Federal Register.

Here’s a peek into what’s happening:

Healthcare:

The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing a regulation requiring hospitals and companies that participate in Medicaid and Medicare to develop emergency response plans. 

Under the draft rule, 17 types of providers and suppliers of the federal healthcare programs would need to coordinate with local, state and other emergency preparedness systems.

{mosads}It would “provide generally consistent emergency preparedness requirements, enhance patient safety during emergencies for persons served by Medicare- and Medicaid-participating facilities, and establish a more coordinated and defined response to natural and man-made disasters,” according to the department.

Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wants to change the rules for benefit programs that are exempt from some federal healthcare requirements. 

Environment:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants the public to weigh in on possible ways to adjust a system controlling consumption and production of potent heat-trapping substances. 

By 2015, a new cap on production and consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) goes into effect. The EPA wants help on determining “how best to implement” that new standard.

Finance:

A draft regulation from the National Credit Union Administration would require examinations and other interactions between agency and federal credit union staff to occur in public. 

The regulator explained that “it is concerned” that allowing meetings to occur at private residences “poses safety risks and is not favorable to conducting business in an appropriate fashion.”

Energy:

The Energy Department is extending the comment period for draft energy conservation standards for residential furnace fans. 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also notifying the public that it approved a new reliability standard. 

Additionally, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is releasing a draft regulatory basis for proposed new rules on spent nuclear fuel. 

Ships:

The Coast Guard is updating its regulations on seafaring vessels and allowing district commanders to waive requirements that sunken vessels are marked by a light at night in some cases. 

Transportation:

Federal railroad regulators are increasing the threshold for reporting accidents involving rail equipment from $9,900 to $10,500.

The increase is meant to reflect cost increases since the threshold was last adjusted in November 2012. 

Animals:

The National Marine Fisheries Service is issuing rules allowing the unintentional deaths or disturbances of some marine mammals during Navy tests. 

Agriculture:

The Department of Agriculture wants to increase the fee charged to fund a marketing order for Florida tomatoes. 

The Farm Credit administration is publishing a regulation outlining a reporting scheme for its risk evaluations.