(April 10, 2026) – The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued two Quality and Safety Special Alert Memos in the past month that the Kansas Hospital Association wants to bring to your attention.
The first alert, titled Upcoming Deadline for Sprinkler System Requirement for Existing Health Care Occupancies in High-Rise Buildings, reminds us that all high-rise hospitals of any kind must be equipped with sprinklers by July 5, 2028. According to the QSSAM-26-02-ALL, the Life Safety Code "defines a high-rise as a building where the floor of an occupiable story is greater than 75 ft. above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access."
The second alert, titled Hospital Nutrition Service Obligations in Light of Updated Federal Nutrition Guidelines, provides updated guidance to ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation for providing menus and diets that meet individual patient nutritional needs in accordance with recognized standards. On Jan. 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
Please review and share with your food-service and survey-readiness teams.
--Larry Van Der Wege