CMS releases list of proposed rules, makes antibiotic stewardship mandatory

Last week, CMS published a list of proposed rule changes for hospitals and laboratories.  One of the more notable proposals would make antibiotic stewardship programs [ASP] mandatory. ASPs are viewed by many as a way to prevent antibiotic misuse and the spread of drug-resistant disease.

“We propose to change the introductory paragraph [in Infection Control Condition of Participation §482.42] to require that a hospital’s infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship programs be active and hospitalwide for the surveillance, prevention, and control of HAIs and other infectious diseases, and for the optimization of antibiotic use through stewardship,” according to the proposed rule.

Only 40% of U.S. hospitals have an antibiotic stewardship program and an estimated 30% to 50% of prescribed antibiotics are unnecessary or inappropriate.  In the U.S., drug-resistant diseases cause 23,000 deaths and 2 million illnesses each year.

The document also changed included changes to patient rights, restraint usage, physician assistants, medical records, diet orders, periodic evaluations, and several more. To see the full list of changes, click here.

Healthcare professionals can comment on the proposed rules until 5 p.m. on August 15, 2016. Comments can be sent by traditional mail to CMS or done online.