CMS has proposed changes to the Conditions of Participation that the agency says will improve patient safety and quality.
The rule proposes to reduce overuse of antibiotics and implement comprehensive requirements for infection prevention.
Kate Goodrich, MD, MHS, CMS director of the Center for Clinical Standards & Quality, said the proposal requires Medicare and Medicaid hospitals to have designated leaders in charge of specialized programs to prevent infections, improve antibiotic use, and follow nationally recognized guidelines. The proposed rule also advances protections for traditionally underserved and often excluded populations based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity), age, disability, or sexual orientation.
More information about the proposed rule is available online at http://go.cms.gov/1YzEvEQ.
