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July 14, 2007
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Erickson Bill to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections Heads to Governor  

Bill to improve care, lower healthcare costs to be signed into law.

Harrisburg – The state Senate today passed and sent to the Governor legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26) to reduce the number of healthcare‑associated infections in the Commonwealth.  Senate Bill 968 will establish the steps to be taken by state government agencies and healthcare facilities to prevent, track, and reduce infections.

"I appreciate the prompt action this bill received by my colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and I am encouraged that the Governor stands ready to sign Senate Bill 968 into law," said Erickson, Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.  "Over the past few years, many health care facilities in the Commonwealth have taken steps to reduce HAIs. Senate Bill 968 will ensure that these initiatives are undertaken statewide, using the latest technology and protocols to prevent infections, and to report infections quickly and accurately when they occur."

Nationwide, healthcare-associated infections affect an estimated two million patients a year, with more than 100,000 dying from bacteria that are increasingly resistant to common antibiotics. It has been estimated that the average additional cost for a patient that develops a healthcare‑associated infection, also known as an HAI, is $8,832.  "Reducing infections will not only lower health care costs, but will spare patients unnecessary pain, discomfort and longer hospital stays, and will improve overall quality of care," said Erickson.

The legislation would do the following:

• Require that hospitals, nursing homes and ambulatory surgical facilities, implement internal infection control plans to improve the health and safety of patients and healthcare workers.
• Ensure that hospitals conduct a strategic assessment of the utility and efficacy of an electronic surveillance system and implement such a system based on the assessment.
• Charge the state Patient Safety Authority with overseeing the reporting of infections and tracking HAIs in Pennsylvania.
• Require insurers and the Medical Assistance Program to reimburse facilities for the cost of infection screenings performed in accordance with an infection control plan.
• Provide a quality improvement payment to a healthcare facility that reduces HAIs by 10% or more.

To ensure a timely, accurate system to track infection rates, Senate Bill 968 has been amended to require the adoption of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) internet-based surveillance system, said Erickson.  The CDC network will be the primary means for hospitals to report healthcare‑associated infections to the Patient Safety Authority, the state Health Department and the Health Care Cost Containment Council.

On June 28, 2007, the CDC announced that it was making this infection tracking system available to all hospitals nationwide, at no charge.  The NHSN has been pilot-tested since 2005 and is used by more than 600 participants in 45 states.  Nine states have already adopted legislation to mandate reporting of HAIs using the NHSN system.

"Adoption of the CDC infection tracking system will enable Pennsylvania to accurately identify and track infections, compare ourselves to hospitals nationwide, and enable the Patient Safety Authority to share best practices to prevent infections," said Erickson.  "In addition, by adopting the CDC system, Pennsylvania hospitals will benefit from the national research and development that has already occurred, as opposed to 'reinventing the wheel.' This will not only save hospitals money, but it will save taxpayer dollars."

Hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulatory surgical facilities must implement an infection control plan within 120 days of the bill's effective date.  Infections must be reported to the CDC and its NHSN no later than 180 days following the bill's effective date.  And, hospitals must ensure that their electronic or other surveillance tracking system is in place by the end of 2008.

"Senate Bill 968 is a comprehensive approach to a problem that has threatened the health of patients and healthcare workers and that has driven up the cost of health care for too long.  Infections do not have to be a byproduct of an encounter with a healthcare facility.  Enactment of my legislation will make Pennsylvania a leader in preventing, tracking and, ultimately, reducing the incidence of healthcare‑acquired infections," said Erickson.  

CONTACT: Michele Hansarick (717) 787-1350
 

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