BILL REQ. #:  H-0418.3 

Read first time 01/14/09.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to reducing the spread of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus; and adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Each hospital licensed under this chapter shall, by January 1, 2010, adopt a policy regarding methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. The policy shall, at a minimum, contain the following elements:
     (a) A procedure for identifying and testing at-risk patients for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus;
     (b) Appropriate procedures to help prevent patients who test positive for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus from infecting other patients. For purposes of this subsection, "appropriate procedures" include, but are not limited to, segregating the patient; and
     (c) A requirement that every patient who tests positive for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus receive oral and written instructions regarding aftercare and precautions to prevent the spread of the infection to others.
     (2)(a) A hospital that has identified a patient who tests positive for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus shall report the infection to the department using the department's comprehensive hospital abstract reporting system. When making its report, the hospital shall, whenever possible, use codes developed by the United States centers for medicare and medicaid services.
     (b) Beginning November 15, 2009, the department shall annually issue a statewide report on the data it has collected using the comprehensive hospital abstract reporting system under this subsection. The report may contain any data trends the department has identified and any recommendations the department may have for reducing the spread of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "at-risk patient" means a surgical patient who, because of the nature of the surgical procedure involved, faces great risk of harm if infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus during the procedure or a patient who is in a hospital's intensive care unit.