H809 Summary

• Establishes a statewide surveillance and reporting system for healthcare-associated infections (HAI) to be implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services by December 31, 2011.

• Requires the State Health Commission to adopt rules establishing uniform standards for HAI surveillance and reporting, including electronic surveillance and reporting requirements.

• Makes all hospitals subject to the statewide HAI surveillance system and requires them to report specified healthcare-associated infections data to the Department through the CDC's National Health Care Safety Network.

• Authorizes the Department to release aggregated and provider-specific HAI data to the public only if deemed reliable and necessary to protect public health, excluding personal identifying information.

• Requires annual reporting to the General Assembly on HAI-related efforts and directs the State HAI Advisory Group to evaluate current science, processes, and existing standards for infection prevention and control.