CMS Requires Policies and Procedures for Legionella Control

On June 2, 2017, the Survey and Certification Group at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a memorandum, “Requirement to Reduce Legionella Risk in Healthcare Facility Water Systems to Prevent Cases and Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease (LD)” (“S&C Memo”), requiring that facilities develop and follow policies and procedures that inhibit microbial growth in building water systems to reduce the risk of growth and spread of Legionella and other pathogens in water. On June 9, 2017, the S&C Memo was revised to clarify provider types to apply to long-term care facilities, hospitals and critical access hospitals.