Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T20:00:45.498Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Laws Pertaining to Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Review of 3 Legal Requirements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Julie Reagan*
Affiliation:
HAI Focus, Edgewood, New Mexico
Carl Hacker
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas
*
HAI Focus, 14 Cedar Ridge, Edgewood, NM 87015 ([email protected])

Abstract

We reviewed US state and territorial healthcare-associated infection (HAI) laws, specifically addressing 3 legal requirements: data submission, reporting of data to the public, and inclusion of facility identifiers in public reports. The majority of US states and territories have HAI laws. The 3 studied legal provisions are all commonly included in state HAI laws in varying forms; however, only a minority of states and territories specifically mandate all 3 legal requirements. The laws of the remaining states vary considerably.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(1):75-80

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Health-Care-Associated Infections in Hospitals: An Overview of State Reporting Programs and Individual Hospital Initiatives to Reduce Certain Infections. GAO publication GAO-08-808. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2008.Google Scholar
2. Klevens, RM, Edwards, JR, Richards, CL, et al. Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in U.S. hospitals, 2002. Public Health Rep 2007;122(2):160166.Google Scholar
3. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eliminating Healthcare Associated Infections: State Policy Options. March 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/pdfs/toolkits/toolkit-HAI-POLICY-FINAL_03-2011.pdf. Accessed April 23, 2011.Google Scholar
4. National Conference of State Legislatures. Lessons from the Pioneers: Reporting Healthcare-Associated Infections. July 2010. http://www.ncsl.org/documents/health/haireport.pdf. Accessed April 22, 2011.Google Scholar
5. HAI Focus Web site. U.S. State and Territorial Healthcare-Associated Infection Laws. http://haifocus.com/us-state-and-territorial-healthcare-associated-infection-laws/. Accessed August 14, 2011.Google Scholar
6. Reagan, JK. The Movement toward Patient Safety: State Action Related to Reporting and Disclosure of Healthcare-Associated Infections [doctoral dissertation]. Published in Proquest/UMI (no. 3402084), 2010.Google Scholar
7. Mike Denton Infection Reporting Act, Ala Code §§ 22-11 A-110 to 22-11A-124 (LexisNexis, LEXIS through Acts 2011, no. 11711).Google Scholar
8. Fla Stat §§ 408.05, 408.061, 408.063 (LexisNexis, LEXIS through Act 2011-141 of the 2011 Reg Sess).Google Scholar
9. Utah Admin Code §§ R386-705-1 to R386-705-101 (LEXIS as in effect on July 1, 2011).Google Scholar
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State-Based HAI Prevention Activities. http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/stateplans/HAIstatePlans-map.html. Accessed April 23, 2011.Google Scholar
11. Ala Code § 22-11A-114(a) (LexisNexis, LEXIS through Acts 2011, no. 11-711).Google Scholar
12. Ark Code Ann § 20-9-1203(a) (LEXIS through 2011 Reg Sess) (health facilities “shall collect data” on HAI rates); § 20-9-1203(b) (health facilities “may voluntarily submit quarterly reports” on HAI rates to the department of health).Google Scholar
13. N Mex Stat Ann § 24-29-4(A) (LexisNexis, LEXIS through 2nd Spec Sess of 49th Leg) (requires recruitment of hospitals to participate in HAI surveillance on voluntary basis); § 24-29-6(A) (participating hospitals shall report the incidence of selected indicators).Google Scholar
14. Burton, DC, Edwards, JR, Horan, TC, Jernigan, JA, Fridkin, SK. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus central line–associated bloodstream infections in US intensive care units, 1997–2007. JAMA 2009;301(7):727736.Google Scholar
15. Climo, MW. Decreasing MRSA infections: an end met by unclear means. JAMA 2009;301(7):772773.Google Scholar
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. First State-Specific Healthcare-Associated Infections Summary Data Report: CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)—January-June, 2009. May 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/stateplans/SIR_05_25_2010.pdf. Accessed April 22, 2011.Google Scholar
17. Conn Gen Stat § 19a-490o(c) (LEXIS through 2010 Leg, 2011 Supp).Google Scholar
18. N Mex Stat Ann § 24-29-6(B) (LexisNexis, LEXIS through 2nd Spec Sess of 49th Leg) (reports shall be published periodically).Google Scholar
19. Tex Health and Safety Code Ann § 98.106(b) (LEXIS through 2009 First-Called Sess).Google Scholar
20. Ark Code Ann § 20-9-1205(a)(l)(B) (LEXIS through 2011 Reg Sess) (“No health facility-identifiable data shall be included in the annual report, but aggregate statistical data may be included”); § 1205(f) (“No annual report or other department disclosure shall contain information that identifies or could be used to identify a specific health facility”).Google Scholar
21. DC Code Ann § 7-161(c)(8) (LexisNexis, LEXIS through May 13, 2011, and DC Act 18-724) (published annual report is to include summary data by “type of healthcare providers and medical facility”).Google Scholar
22. Nev Rev Stat Ann § 439.840(1)(d), (2) (LEXIS through 26th 2010 Spec Sess) (health division shall prepare annual summary of reports for inclusion on Web site; original reports received shall remain confidential).Google Scholar
23. Tenn Code Ann § 68-11-265 (LEXIS through 2010 Reg Sess) (reports and studies prepared by the department may identify individual healthcare entities).Google Scholar
24. Fla Stat § 408.063(2) (LexisNexis, LEXIS through Act 2011-141 of the 2011 Reg Sess) (information shall be published in a manner “which will enhance informed decisionmaking in the selection of health care providers, facilities, and services. Such publications may identify [certain aspects] for selection and use of health care providers, health care facilities, and health care services and such other information as the agency deems appropriate”).Google Scholar
25. N Mex Stat Ann § 24-29-6(B) (LexisNexis, LEXIS through 2nd Spec Sess of 49th Leg).Google Scholar