Legislation introduced today by Representatives Rick Glazier, Martha Alexander, Lucy Allen, and Verla Insko falls short of what is needed to hold hospitals accountable for preventing patient infections, according to Consumers Union. HB 1738 establishes an advisory commission to develop recommendations for public reporting of hospital infection rates, but provides no guarantee that hospitals will be required to disclose such information.
Over the past three years, 14 states around the country have adopted laws requiring public reporting of infection rates. So far, only Florida, Missouri, and Pennsylvania have produced public reports on their state hospitals’ infection rates.
Read previous blog on this topic: Hospital Acquired Infection Reporting by State
Missouri Report: Central line blood stream infections in intensive care units