There is a new website @ APIC.org that lists and describes the US governmental and nongovernmental agencies with functions related to infection control. To find the document, go to www.apic.org. Click on the "Public Policy" tab at the top, then click on "Public Policy Library". The document is called "US Government Agencies".

This is to alert you to new legislation that was recently introduced in Maine . HP 662 (LD 960) is a resolution to direct the Maine Quality Forum to adopt rules establishing procedures for reporting the rate of Clostridium difficile and MRSA in Maine hospitals to the Maine Health Data Organization. The bill was introduced on March 10, 2009 by Representative Linda Sanborn (D-130-Gorham) and referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee, of which Sanborn is a member. It was also introduced in the Senate by Senator Joseph Brannigan (D-9-Cumberland) and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, of which Brannigan is chair. Click here for bill text

This bill would establish a system for screening, reporting, notifying, educating, and preventing the spread of MRSA. Hospitals would screen all patients for MRSA upon admission, with follow-up tests done weekly or on transfer to another department and on discharge to identify colonized or infected patients. Test results would be recorded in the patient's record, and patients who are colonized or infected would be isolated or cohorted with other MRSA-positive patients.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention would develop a system for collecting the information and disseminating it to the public. Hospital reports would include whether the patient was colonized or infected, and whether MRSA was present on admission or acquired during the hospital stay. Hospitals would be required to implement measures to minimize exposure to MRSA, including environmental precautions. In addition to following hand hygiene procedures and use of masks, gloves and gowns, healthcare personnel who are ill would not be offered direct-care assignments and not encouraged to work while they are ill. All hospital staff would be provided with training or continuing education on preventing the spread of infection. Hospitals and nursing facilities would be prohibited from refusing to admit, readmit, or provide care for a person who is colonized or infected with MRSA on the basis of the person's MRSA status.

The bill was introduced on March 17, 2009 by Representative Adam Goode (D-15- Bangor ) and Senator Joe Brannigan (D-9-Cumberland) and referred to the Joint Committee on Health and Human Services, which is chaired by Senator Brannigan. Click here for bill text.

This is to inform you of recently introduced legislation of interest to APIC. S. 123 deals broadly with regulation of hospitals and healthcare facilities. Although most of this bill does not relate specifically to infection prevention, the bill would amend the current definition of "hospital" in Title 18 Chapter 221 of the Vermont Statutes to include ambulatory surgical centers. The result of this would be that the section of Vermont law that currently requires hospitals to include measures of hospital-acquired infections as part of hospital community reports (enacted 2006) would also apply to ambulatory surgery centers. The bill was introduced by Senator Bill Carris ( D-Rutland County ) and referred to the Health and Welfare Committee. Click here for bill text. The bill is quite lengthy, but the ASC provision is on Page 1 Lines 19-20.

Hearing will be held Thursday regarding attached House Bill 5799 which would require provision of written recommendations to everyone before and during their hospitalization for the purpose of preventing hospital acquired infections.
A copy of the bill can be viewed by clicking here