A bill amending the state law that requires hospitals to report infections acquired by patients during care sailed through the state House on a 98-0 vote Monday.
House Bill 1471 has been criticized by Consumers Union for dropping mandatory reporting for three types of infections that were in the state’s original 2007 law, which advocates won passage of despite hospitals’ resistance.
Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, had fought for the original law, which was authored by a former state representative, Tom Campbell, a Republican from Roy.
Supporters say the bill, which omits infection reporting for hip, knee and cardiac procedures, is needed to align reporting requirements with Obamacare.
The House measure, which was sponsored by freshman Democratic Rep. Marcus Riccelli of Spokane, now moves to the Senate where similar legislation cleared health-care committees and is awaiting a vote.
Republican Sen. Randi Becker of Eatonville has said she would add an amendment to cover the procedures.
And freshman Democratic Sen. Nathan Schlicher of Gig Harbor, who sponsored Senate Bill 5415, said he would agree to amend the measure if the reporting requirement would expire in three or four years.
The Washington State Hospital Association supported the original bill but opposes amendments to preserve reporting on the three procedures, arguing that hospitals have limited resources and that those procedures do not have significant infection rates.
Brad Shannon: 360-753-1688 bshannon@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/politicsblog Download the Capital Update app for iPad and iPhone for a seven-day free trial.
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