The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) changes will affect medical gas system regulations for healthcare facilities, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.

The final version of NFPA 99, 2012 was upgraded from a standard to a code, while moving from occupancy-based to a risk-based approach of applying the requirements. 

CMS said it will be requiring hospitals and healthcare facilities to meet the new conditions of participation, which include adherence to the 2012 edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code. 

The Joint Commission and other accreditation agencies are following suit, and the Joint Commission has a working draft of new elements of performance for the medical gas and vacuum systems included in the environment of care section of the accreditation manual, the article said.

Read the article.