Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on August 19, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., at the Indiana State Department of Health, 2 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Indiana State Department of Health will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments that add 410 IAC 15-4 to require hospitals and ambulatory outpatient surgical centers to report health care-associated infections.

The Indiana State Department of Health has the authority to adopt this rule under IC 16-19-3-5 and IC 16-21-1-7. This rule may impose additional requirements or costs under IC 4-22-2-24(d)(3). Health care-associated infections are an increasing problem threatening the health and safety of patients in Indiana and the nation. This proposed rule may add costs in additional monitoring and tracking of more infections for hospitals that are currently targeting certain infections and doing minimal monitoring on others based on their hospital risk assessments. Reporting of health care-associated infections through this rule will provide the data from hospitals to identify the rates and infection problem areas, help provide the focus for remedial and preventative actions to improve infection control, and inform the public about infection rates.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Office of Legal Affairs, Indiana State Department of Health, 2 North Meridian Street and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.