CDC Announces State Funds for HAI Prevention; New Jersey Adopts Law Prohibiting Providers from Billing for Serious Medical Errors - September 8, 2009

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced plans to distribute $40 million in Recovery Act funds to state health departments to prevent health care-associated infections (HAIs). States may use these funds to create or expand state and local efforts to implement HHS’ HAI Action Plan, increase health care facilities’ and health departments’ use of CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network HAI surveillance program, and hire and train public health staff to promote and lead HAI prevention initiatives. States will be expected to focus on bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections, as well as MRSA and C. difficile. In related news, the State of New Jersey has enacted legislation prohibiting hospitals in the state from billing for serious medical errors, including certain hospital-acquired conditions that are subject to Medicare’s HAI payment policy.