Making Infection Prevention Policymakers Business Lisa Tomlinson Sr. Director of Gov. Affairs Nancy Hailpern Asst. Director of Gov. Affairs Benjamin Rogers Gov. Affairs Associate September 22, 2011 Federal Legislative Update Thank You For Being the Voice of Infection Prevention! FY12 funding for the National Action Plan to Prevent HAIs and CDC core programs Over 4,200 letters were sent to Congress http://capwiz.com/apic/issues/alert/?alertid=52884526
FY12 Funding Requests $5 million for the HHS National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs): Roadmap to Elimination $8.8 billion for CDC s core programs, including $2.3 billion for infectious disease programs $27 million to expand NHSN $200 million for efforts to address emerging infectious diseases $40 million for CDC s antimicrobial resistance activities $34 million for AHRQ to continue the agency s work to reduce HAIs Continuation of CMS efforts to increase survey frequency at ASCs Federal Regulations -- Final FY 2012 Hospital Inpatient and LTCH Prospective Payment Systems Final Rule Acute Care Hospitals FY 2014 Medicare payment determination (Reported through NHSN beginning January 2012) CAUTI SSIs colon surgeries and abdominal hysterectomies FY 2015 Medicare payment determination (Reported through NHSN beginning January 2013) MRSA C.Diff. HCP influenza vaccination Long-Term Care Hospitals FY 2014 Medicare payment determination (Reported through NHSN beginning October 2012) CAUTI CLABSI
FY 2012 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Prospective Payment System Final Rule Quality measure reporting for IRFs for FY 2014 payment determination. CAUTI reported through NHSN beginning October 2012 Federal Regulations -- Proposed Influenza Vaccination Standard Update from CMS Proposed Rule would make offering annual influenza vaccination for hospital inpatients and outpatients a Medicare Condition of Participation(CoP) Final rule was expected from CMS around September 1, 2011 Implementation was expected for 2011-2012 flu season APIC recommendation: delay implementation so that: Year 1 (2011-2012) flu season staffing/resource planning Year 2 (2012-2013) flu season implement for hospital inpatients Year 3 (2013-2014) incorporate outpatients into program ONLY after thorough evaluation of impact of proposal on outpatient population. Update from CMS: Final rule now expected to be published in March 2012 Will notbe implemented in 2011-2012 flu season, but unsure when final rule will require implementation
CY 2012 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Proposed Rule Proposed rule includes 10 new quality measures for CY 2014, including Surgical Site infections (sites to be determined) Adds healthcare personnel influenza vaccination coverage for CY 2015 Both SSIs and HCP influenza vaccination would be reported through NHSN Proposed rule expands the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program for FY 2014 by adding hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) as outcome measures to the inpatient hospital performance scoring system. Infection-related HACs include vascular catheter-associated infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) FY 2012 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule Quality measure reporting for ESRDs for Payment Year (PY) 2014 ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) Proposes to adopt 5 clinical measures and 3 structural measures, including: Vascular access infection Dialysis infection events Reporting through NHSN for Medicare reimbursement Applies to free-standing and hospital-affiliated dialysis clinics State Legislative Updates
HAI Reporting Requirements 2011 State Laws WA MT OR ID WY NV UT CO CA AZ NM AK VT ME ND MN NH MA SD WI MI NY RI CT IA PA NE NJ IL IN OH ** DE WV MD KS VA MO KY DC NC TN OK AR SC MS AL GA LA TX FL HI States with study laws Mandates public reporting of infection rates Voluntary ** 13 Non-Hospital Facilities International Infection Prevention Week 2011
Infection Prevention is Everyone s Business October 16-22, 2011 Participate in Live Events Take Part in Joint Webinars Partner for Infection Prevention Infection Prevention is Everyone s Business Showcase your Commitment Participate in Live Events IIPW Policy Summit hosted by APIC and the National Journal (also webcast live) Wednesday, October 19 at 8 am. IIPW Local APIC Chapter Events: Northeastern Pennsylvania (Chapter #058) Strike Out Infection Day bowling event. Egypt (Chapter #200) Marathon, film contest, roundtable workshops, and educational sessions to raise awareness of IIPW and hepatitis C. Greater Chattanooga (Chapter #086) OSHA: Guidelines for Medical and Dental Offices seminar and project. Philadelphia and Delaware Valley (Chapter #015) Washing Hands is Fun play-performed for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Heart of New York (Chapter #118) Isolation guidelines conference for practitioners in long-term care and inpatient psychiatric facilities. Long Island, New York (Chapter #038) Flu prevention poster contest for school-aged children. Southern Nevada (Chapter #035) Multidisciplinary symposium for healthcare workers in dialysis centers, surgery centers, acute and long-term care facilities, rehabilitation units, and others.
Take Part in Joint Webinars Participate in special educational webinars designed in collaboration with partnering associations: Live Webinar October 17 from 1-2 p.m. EDT The Future of Infection Prevention/Healthcare Epidemiology -A Partnership Paradigm (SHEA) October 18 from 1-2 p.m. EDT Putting Safety at the Center of Our IP Practice (NPSF) October 19 from 1-2 p.m. EDT Looking Beyond the Hospital: Assuring Safe Processing of Reusable Devices in All Settings (AORN) October 20 from 1-2 p.m. EDT Developing a Central Line Maintenance Bundle: What is the Best Approach? (INS) October 21 from 1-2 p.m. EDT How Clean Are Our Patient Care Areas? Are We Sure? (AHE) Partner for Infection Prevention Numerous associations, societies and organizations from all over the world have come together with APIC to commemorate IIPW. Key Partners - Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) - Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) - Infusion Nurses Society (INS) - National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) - Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Showcase Your Commitment Use the free online resource kit to access widgets, sample news releases, logosand more to spread the word that Infection prevention is everyone s business. Order IIPW branded merchandiseto create a lasting impression year round.
Informational brochure for CLRs IIPW provides an opportunity: Public Policy and IIPW For Infection Preventionists to introduce themselves to their elected officials so they can offer their expertise when issues relating to infection prevention arise. To educate policymakers about the role of infection preventionists in their communities To educate policymakers about infection prevention To educate policymakers about HAIs To advocate for science-based policies Impacting Policy What is Advocacy? An advocate is someone who speaks on behalf of, in favor of, or in support of an individual, group, or cause. Why should IPs advocate: Advocacy is education teaching policymakers about an issue to help them make informed decisions. As experts in infection prevention, IPs are valued resources to educate legislators and regulators about HAIs and how to prevent them. Who better to teach them?
Role of IPs in the Legislative/Regulatory Process Legislation: Inform legislators and staff about infection prevention Provide background to legislators prior to legislation being drafted Help educate legislators about pending legislation Regulation: Provide comments to regulatory agencies on how best to implement laws Why? Because IPs know the science and how best to carry out effective infection prevention programs Infection prevention policy is already being developed but the how should be determined with input from the experts Meeting with Policymakers Why should we meet with legislators? Legislators and staff are more likely to remember people they meet in person. Policymakers appreciate that you have taken time from your busy schedules to meet with them. It is helpful to legislators and staff to have an expert resource to call if questions arise about issues outside their areas of expertise.
Legislative visits Q&A Q: Who should come to the meeting? A: Chapter members who have participated in pre-visit briefing. Q: What if my state has more than one APIC chapter? A: Multiple chapters within a state are encouraged to collaborate in planning legislative visits. Q: What if I am uncomfortable going to a meeting alone? A: Small group meetings are encouraged. Q: What should we talk about? A: First meeting should be a meet & greet introduce yourselves and what you do, offer yourselves as a resource with expertise in infection prevention. Who should we meet with? Legislators who represent the districts where you live or work. Priority should be given to legislators serving on healthcare committees, especially chairs, vice chairs, ranking members. Meeting with legislative staff can be as helpful as meeting with the legislator. Meet with federal, state and/or local policymakers --infection prevention policy happens at all levels of government. Where should the meeting be? State and federal legislators have offices both in the capital and in their home districts. When the legislature is in session, you can visit legislators and staffers at the capital. When the legislature is in recess, you can meet with legislators and staffers in their district offices. All federal legislators and most state legislators have websitesthat provide addresses, phone numbers and email addresses where they can be contacted.
How to Plan your Visit Plan ahead Find out when the legislature is in session Decide where you want to meet the legislator Request a meeting Call and/or write (letter, email or fax) the legislator s office to request the meeting. Ask to meet with the legislator and his/her health staffer. Indicate purpose of your visit Be flexible Legislative schedules change frequently if the person you are scheduled to meet with is not there, ask to meet with another staff member Conducting the meeting Introduce yourselves Introduce the role of infection preventionists and APIC Inform the legislator briefly about HAIs and infection prevention using layperson s language Use the IIPW brochure as your guide Decide in advance who will lead the meeting and have a practice meeting Refer the legislator/policymaker to contact information on brochure Tips for a successful meeting Keep politics out of the discussion (especially partisan politics) Relate your discussions back to the legislators district Find out a little bit about the legislator in advance Is he/she the chair of a health committee or a budget/appropriates committee? Is he/she a new legislator or a long-serving member? Is the legislator a healthcare professional by training? Does anyone on your team or your chapter have a personal connection with the legislator (i.e. is he/she a neighbor, family member, close friend)? Has the legislator spoken publicly about HAIs, pandemic preparedness, healthcare facilities?
Follow Up Send a thank you note Use the thank-you as an opportunity to reiterate important points, answer any questions that come up in the meeting, or provide additional information Send only one thank you per meeting, not per person, but reference all visitors If the legislator or staffer has shown particular interest, keep in touch If you hear new information about infection prevention, new research, etc., use this as an opportunity to keep in touch with the legislator. Let us know! Who did you meet with? How did your meetings go? Is any follow-up needed? Do you need assistance from APIC HQ? Do you have any tips to pass on to other chapters planning legislative visits? We would like to highlight chapter legislative experiences, so please keep us informed