title: Mandatory reporting and pay for performance: health care infections in the limelight.
abstract: Health care-associated infections (HAIs) have received national attention because of recent news stories in print and on television. many states have mandatory reporting requirements for hospital HAI rates, and as of October 1, 2008, Medicare no longer will pay for certain HAI-related costs. Collaboration among health care providers, patients, government agencies, professional and consumer groups, and payers and improved adherence to infection-prevention protocols can dramatically reduce the incidence of HAIs.
authors.affiliation: Arias Infection Control Consulting LLC, Crownsville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen Meehan
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D037141:Mandatory Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006278:Medicare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology