APIC is taking strong steps to advocate for CMS to finalize proposed revisions to the Hospital/CAH Conditions of Participation (CoPs), which include the first update to infection prevention and control requirements since 1986 and includes a requirement for hospitals to establish antibiotic stewardship programs. Without further action, the proposed improvements will expire on June 16, 2019. 

In the last few months:

•APIC sent a joint letter with SHEA to CMS administrator Seema Verma requesting that CMS finalize the proposed CoP revisions;

•APIC responded to a request for information from the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) to inform the development of a new National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria urging that the CMS finalize hospital requirements for antibiotic stewardship programs;

•APIC President Karen Hoffmann addressed PACCARB to request the council urge CMS to finalize the proposed revisions to the Medicare CoPs because antibiotic stewardship requirements must be the first step in combating antibiotic resistance;

•APIC and SHEA sent a joint follow-up letter to PACCARB to reiterate the need for antibiotic stewardship programs in hospitals;

•APIC sent a letter of support for draft recommendations of the United Nations Interagency Coordination Group (IACG) on Antimicrobial Resistance.