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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a categorical waiver allowing most health care facilities to use emergency power sources authorized by the 2021 edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Health Care Facilities Code, including a health care microgrid system (HCMS). The waiver excludes long-term care facilities that provide life support.
Under current regulations, health care facilities must comply with the 2012 edition of NFPA 99 which requires emergency power sources be supplied by a generator set or battery system. The 2021 edition of NFPA 99 permits normal and emergency power to be supplied by sources other than a generator or battery system, including an HCMS. The power sources for an HCMS can be provided or supplemented by a combination of clean energy technologies such as fuel cells, solar panels, wind turbines, energy storage systems, and other alternate energy sources.
