It’s hard to believe there are still nursing homes out there without sprinkler systems!

Under a new proposal, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will require nursing homes nationwide to install sprinkler systems or lose their Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

Kansas has more than 350 nursing homes and hospital long-term care units.

“CMS is taking further action to protect the lives of our beneficiaries through a proven effective approach to fire safety,” acting administrator Leslie Norwalk said in a statement. “Automatic sprinkler systems are integral to increasing safety in nursing homes, and we look forward to their installation in all of the nursing homes across the country.”

Officials with Via Christi Senior Services, which operates seven nursing and senior care homes throughout Kansas and Oklahoma, said the ruling won’t have much impact with them — they’ve made a policy of installing sprinklers in all facilities — but smaller, rural centers might feel some financial strain.

“I think it’s important to guarantee the safety of the residents as much as possible,” said Via Christi Senior Services spokeswoman Debbi Elmore. “Our buildings are all sprinkled, but it could hurt some of the smaller, free-standing homes that will have to install them.”

CMS will take public and industry input on an appropriate phase-in time to allow older homes to retrofit their facilities. The comment period will remain open until December 26.