BILL NUMBER: S9067

SPONSOR: KRUEGER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring hospi-
tals and residential health care facilities to implement a pressure
ulcer prevention program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Requires hospitals and residential health care facilities to implement a
pressure ulcer prevention program

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 (a) requires the development and implementation of pressure
ulcer prevention programs at every general hospital and residential
health care facility.

Section 1 (b) mandates the Commissioner to evaluate the current
reimbursement policy in regard to pressure ulcer prevention programs
              

within 120 days of the effective date. Additionally, within six months
of the effective date, the Commissioner will develop multiple reimburse-
ment alternatives that would reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers.

Section 1 (c) requires the Commissioner to create a pressure ulcer
prevention center of excellence within the Department of Health which
will consult with global experts and seek private philanthropic support.

Section 2 states the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Pressure ulcers, also referred to as bed sores, are injuries that occur
when prolonged pressure is applied to one spot on the skin harming the
underlying tissue. They are most common in those who are, for whatever
reason, physically unable to change positions when lying down. There are
more than 200,000 cases in the U.S. per year.

Pressure ulcers primarily affect individuals who are immobile or have
limited mobility due to medical conditions, age, or injury. Common risk
factors include prolonged bed rest, wheelchair use, malnutrition, and
dehydration.

Due to the nature of pressure ulcers being a quality of care issue and
near-entirely preventable, under the Affordable Care Act, the federal
government also won't reimburse providers if Stage III and Stage IV
ulcers develop while at the hospital. One case of pressure ulcers per
hospital stay adds an estimated $43,180 to its cost, according to CMS.
For this reason, many hospitals had created programs and workgroups to
reduce the number of incidents of pressure ulcers developing, in recent
years there has been a trend of pressure ulcers increasing.

While easily preventable, they are extremely difficult to treat and they
are one of the most expensive costs in the health care system with the
U.S. spending about $26.8 billion annually on treatment costs.* They
develop quickly and take months to treat, causing additional distress to
the patient and loved ones.
Prevention is crucial. Regularly repositioning bedridden patients, using
specialized cushions, and maintaining proper nutrition and hydration can
reduce the risk. Treatment involves wound care, infection control, and
addressing underlying health issues.  Techniques include debridement
(removing dead tissue), dressings, and pressure redistribution devices.
Collaborative efforts among healthcare providers, patients, and caregiv-
ers are essential to prevent and manage pressure ulcers effectively.

This bill will require the development and eventual implementation of
individual pressure ulcer prevention programs within hospitals and resi-
dential health care facilities. The pressure ulcer prevention programs
will help prevent the mass amounts of pressure ulcer incidents occurring
and reduce pain and associated costs. The recommendations established
through the program and expert consultations will incentivize prevention
efforts.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
*Padula WV, Delarmente BA. The national cost of hospital-acquired pres-
sure injuries in the United States.  Int Wound J. 2019
Jun;16(3):634-640. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13071. Epub 2019 Jan 28. PMID:
30693644; PMCID:  PMC7948545.