1. Legislative & Regulatory Updates
March 2019
Jessica Arias, BSN, RN, CIC

2. APIC’s Public Policy Agenda
APIC’s federal funding priorities
Elimination of HAIs
AR and ASP
Mandatory influenza vaccination for HCP
Using data and IT to help prevent HAIs
APIC’s Public Policy Agenda
Includes information on the following:

3. National Public Policy Committee
Proposed comments and edits for the CMS Phase 3 LTC CoPs
Comments on California legislation to enhance IP in Hospitals
Advocating for CMS Hospital CoPs to be adopted before they expire in June 2019
Plans to meet at Capitol Hill in May 2019

4. Recalls FDA issues Recommendations on Surgical Staplers/Staples
General Mills flour recall r/t possible Salmonella contamination
Better if used by 4/20/2020
Due to the increased number of adverse events reported to the FDA, the agency also plans to hold an open public meeting of the General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee in 2019 to discuss whether reclassifying surgical staplers for internal use as Class II medical devices would be appropriate. Currently, surgical staplers for external and internal use are regulated as Class I medical devices, which do not require a premarket submission to the FDA. Reclassifying surgical staplers for internal use as a Class II device would subject them to premarket notification andallow the FDA to establish mandatory special controls to help mitigate known risks of the device.

5. Tri-Agency Task Force FDA CDC CMS
The three agencies each play a critical role in emergency response, including identifying threats, regulating medical products, and providing oversight for laboratories. The task force will help the agencies better collaborate to prepare for, and respond to, public health threats.

6. President Releases FY 2020 Budget Request
Cuts to funding for HHS by $12 billion
May result in fewer resources for IPC programs
Contact your members of Congress!
Reject these cuts, work with their colleagues to create bipartisan budget that protects patients
President Releases FY 2020 Budget Request

7. Take Action http://cqrcengage.com/apic/

8. Speak up! Urge CMS to take action on Antibiotic Stewardship
letter?13&engagementId=492443
Educate Congress about the Flu
letter?8&engagementId=492945
Welcome members of the 116th Congress by introducing them to the expanding role of infection preventionists
letter?18&engagementId=495666

9. APIC eNews Government Affairs http://cqrcengage.com/apic/home

10. CDC Vital Signs March 5, 2019 https://www. cdc. gov/vitalsigns/index
CDC published a Vital Signs report that focuses on the national burden of Staphylococcus aureus (staph) in healthcare settings and communities

11. New Jersey

12. Measles Outbreak National concern
NJ declared new outbreak in Ocean county
LINCS message related to exposures
Lakewood, NJ
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Press release:
Measles Outbreak

13. AR Lab Network Surveillance Testing
Routine surveillance testing
Species identification
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Molecular testing
Modified Carbapenemase production testing

14. Antimicrobial Stewardship Recognition Program
Bronze, Silver, Gold
Applications for acute & post-acute
Aligns with CDC core elements
Coming Summer 2019

15. ICAR 2.0 Jessica Arias, Bridget Farrell, Carol Genese
Infection prevention
Ventilator Skilled Nursing Facilities
On-site support
Prevent spread of novel MDROs
ICAR 2.0 Jessica Arias, Bridget Farrell, Carol Genese

16. Education Opportunities
ICAR Resources or Assessment Opportunity:
Safe Injection Ambassador Training: FULL
Fall dates to be determined
ICAR & HFSFO LTC Webinar: Coming soon!
March 2019
CDC & CMS launch LTC training
Education Opportunities