Webinars Explore CMS Rules Limiting Reimbursement for HAIs

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- With new federal regulations limiting reimbursements for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) looming on the horizon, B. Braun Medical Inc., the Infusion Nurses Society (INS), and the Massachusetts Hospital Association (MHA), will host a Webinar series in September to equip nurses and hospital managers with best practices that can help prevent the spread of infections in their facilities.

The two part-Webinar series, titled “New CMS Ruling: The Impact on Health, Hospitals, and Infusion Therapy,” is scheduled for Sept. 4 and Sept. 16 and comes in response to a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that will take effect on October 1. The rule prohibits payment to hospitals for care required to treat several types of HAIs.

“The new rule clearly challenges healthcare facilities to reduce HAIs or face financial penalties,” said Tom Sutton, director of marketing of vascular access systems for B. Braun Medical Inc. “This seminar with INS and MHA is really about sharing expertise with clinicians and healthcare managers to help them adopt best practices and techniques and improve the quality of patient care.”

Funded through an educational grant from B. Braun, this Webinar series will discuss the new CMS ruling, as well as the use of best practices to reduce and eliminate infections.

“We are pleased to be aligned with these two organizations to present this Webinar series on such an important issue for the healthcare community,” said Mary Alexander, chief executive officer for INS. “The series is also a great opportunity for the infusion nursing community to become familiar with the new CMS ruling and how it will impact their facility.”

Led by William J. Kassler, MD, MPH, chief medical officer for the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid’s New England region, the first session will examine the impact this ruling may have on hospitals and the infusion community. Present on admission (POA) conditions, reporting and coding also will be discussed.

The second session, led by Mary Ellen Scales, MSN, RN, CIC, manager of the infection control program at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., will focus on comprehensive infection prevention programs, including current evidence-based guidelines to eliminate catheter-associated urinary tract infections, vascular access-related bacteremia, and surgical site infections.

To register for the Webinar and to view archived Webinars, visit: http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/ins/

Source: B. Braun