Requires hospitals and residential health care facilities to implement a pressure ulcer prevention program; directs the commissioner of health to evaluate reimbursement policies in relation to pressure ulcer prevention; provides for the establishment of a pressure ulcer prevention center of excellence.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9718
SPONSOR: Paulin 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.
While easily preventable, they are extremely difficult to treat. 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.
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.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9718
IN ASSEMBLY
April 3, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 2803 of the public health law is amended by adding
2 a new subdivision 15 to read as follows:
3 15. (a) The commissioner shall require each general hospital and resi-
4 dential health care facility to develop and implement a pressure ulcer
5 prevention program.
6 (b) Within one hundred twenty days of the effective date of this
7 subdivision, the commissioner shall evaluate current reimbursement poli-
8 cies in regard to pressure ulcer prevention programs including durable
9 medical equipment, education and training. Within six months after such
10 effective date, the commissioner shall develop a menu of reimbursement
11 alternatives that would reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers across
12 all health care settings.
13 (c) By October first, two thousand twenty-four the commissioner shall
14 establish a pressure ulcer prevention center of excellence within the
15 department. Such center shall consult with experts across the world and
16 seek private philanthropic support.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14439-01-4
