CMS is requiring hospitals to implement antibiotic stewardship and infection control programs under its Omnibus Burden Reduction final rule released Sept. 26, reports CIDRAP News.
The programs must be hospitalwide and adhere to nationally recognized guidelines on the surveillance and prevention of healthcare-associated infections, along with the optimization of antibiotic use.
Hospitals will have six months to implement a program after the final rule is published in the Federal Register.
"The changes are aimed at effectively reducing the development and transmission of HAIs and antibiotic-resistant organisms that ultimately will greatly improve the care and safety of patients while adding cost benefits for hospitals," CMS said in a fact sheet.