What's happening
This bill requires hospitals to notify incoming patients about recent hospital-acquired infections via conspicuous, regularly updated signage.
Why it matters
Empowers patients to make informed choices. by ensuring they receive timely and accessible information about recent hospital-acquired infections before admission, which could influence their decision to proceed with treatment or choose another facility.
Increases hospital accountability and transparency. by mandating daily updates and prominent, easy-to-understand signage about infection rates, likely prompting hospitals to improve infection control practices to maintain public trust.
Establishes enforceable standards. by requiring the New York State Department of Health to set penalties for hospitals that fail to comply, adding regulatory teeth to the transparency mandate and incentivizing consistent reporting.
Facilitates access to detailed information. by obligating hospitals to provide individual copies of infection data upon request, helping patients, families, and advocates better evaluate risks and advocate for safer care.
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Who cares
General hospitals
They would have to post daily updated notices at prebooking, intake and registration about reportable hospital-acquired infections from the prior 30 days and provide individual copies on request.
Hospital patients
They would receive access to recent infection information through conspicuous, easily understandable signs with directions for obtaining additional information.
New York State Department of Health
It would have to establish penalties by regulation for first and subsequent violations of the notification requirement.
Headline styles
Tell Patients Infection Rates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Tell Patients About Hospital Infections
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3276
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to notifying hospital patients upon intake of reports of hospital-acquired infections
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 2819 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
6-a. No later than one hundred eighty days after the issuance of the reports required pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (c) of subdivision five of this section, each general hospital shall be required to notify patients as a component of prebooking, intake and registration of the hospital-acquired infections, that would be required to be reported to the department pursuant to this section, that occurred in the hospital for the prior thirty day period. Such notification shall be updated on a daily basis and shall be accomplished through the conspicuous posting of signs, which are easily understandable by the general public, and shall include directions on how to obtain additional information. To the degree practicable, the format of such signs shall be consistent with the format of the summary table required to be developed pursuant to subdivision six of this section. Upon request the hospital shall provide a patient with an individual copy of the information contained on such sign. The department through regulation shall establish penalties applicable to the first and subsequent violations of the requirement imposed by this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07352-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to notifying hospital patients upon intake of reports of hospital-acquired infections
Purpose
Provides for notification to hospital patients upon intake of reports of hospital-acquired infections.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends section 2819 of the public health law by adding a new subdivision 6-a to mandate that no later than one hundred eighty days after the issuance of the reports required pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (c) of subdivision five of this section, each general hospital shall be required to notify patients as a component of pre- booking, intake and registration of the hospital-acquired infections, that would be required to be reported to the department pursuant to this section, that occurred in the hospital for the prior thirty day period. Such notification shall be updated on a daily basis and shall be accom- plished through the conspicuous posting of signs, which are easily understandable by the general public.
Section two requires that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
While great strides have been made toward ensuring the safety of patients in New York State, further steps must be taken to guarantee that patients treated in hospitals are protected. By requiring the notification to patients upon intake of reports of hospital-acquired infections, and updating notifications daily, it increases the standards for improved public protection. A Public Health Report released in April of 2007 found that there is an estimated 4.5 hospital infections for every 100 patient admissions and nearly 100,000 deaths from hospital infection. It has been found that hospital-acquired infections remain highly prevalent because health care facilities have not taken a proac- tive approach to the issue. According to American Journal of Infection Control, treating hospital-acquired infections can cost as much as $4.2 billion annually, which is an amount far greater than the long-term cost of prevention strategies.
Legislative history
2018: S.6193 - Referred to Health / A.8224 Referred to Health 2017: S.6193 - Referred / A.8224 - Referred to Health 2016: S.4572 - Referred to Health 2015: S.4572 - Referred to Health 2014: S.2143 - Referred / A.4960 - Referred to Health 2013: S.2143 - Referred / A.4960 - Referred to Health 2012: S.5283 - Referred / A.2053 - Referred to Health 2011: S.5283 - Referred / A.2052 - Referred to Health 2010: S.496 - Referred / A.2987 - Referred to Health 2009: S.496 - Referred / A.2987 - Referred to Health
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.