Bill Text: NY S06378 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the health care practitioner hygienic dress code program within the department of health to address clothing, jewelry and identification tags worn by health care professionals that may cause infection, disease and bacteria in patients, visitors and the general public.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-21 - REFERRED TO HEALTH [S06378 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-S06378-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 6378 I N S E N A T E January 21, 2014 ___________ Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law, the education law and the insur- ance law, in relation to establishing a health care practitioner hygienic dress code; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Article 2 of the public health law is amended by adding a 2 new title 6 to read as follows: 3 TITLE 6 4 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC 5 DRESS CODE 6 SECTION 266. HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE. 7 S 266. HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE. 1. DEFINITIONS. 8 THE FOLLOWING WORDS OR PHRASES AS USED IN THIS TITLE SHALL HAVE THE 9 FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 10 (A) "CONTINUING EDUCATION" SHALL MEAN ALL PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING 11 EDUCATION PROGRAMS REQUIRED EITHER BY STATE LAW, OR BY PROFESSIONAL 12 ASSOCIATIONS AUTHORIZED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR THE 13 REQUIREMENTS OF LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION AND TO CONDUCT CONTINUING 14 EDUCATION REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED BY A HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER. 15 (B) "COUNCIL" SHALL MEAN THE STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC 16 DRESS CODE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED BY SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION. 17 (C) "HEALTH CARE FACILITY" SHALL MEAN AND INCLUDE A HOSPITAL AND RESI- 18 DENTIAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED 19 ONE OF THIS CHAPTER, AND ANY SETTING IN WHICH A HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER 20 REGULARLY PRACTICES HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 21 (D) "HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON LICENSED AS A 22 PHYSICIAN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THE EDUCATION 23 LAW, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR SPECIALIST ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 24 HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THE EDUCATION LAW, NURSE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 25 HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE OF THE EDUCATION LAW, OR MIDWIFE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 26 ONE HUNDRED FORTY OF THE EDUCATION LAW. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01504-01-3 S. 6378 2 1 2. STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE COUNCIL. (A) THE 2 STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE COUNCIL IS HEREBY 3 ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT TO BE AN EXPERT PANEL TO ADVISE THE 4 COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION ON: (I) THE BEST PRAC- 5 TICES RELATED TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, 6 INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN 7 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES BY MEANS OF THE UNHYGIENIC CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND 8 HEALTH CARE FACILITY IDENTIFICATION TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITION- 9 ERS AND THE CLEANING PERSONNEL OF SUCH FACILITIES, (II) THE PROMOTION OF 10 BETTER AND COORDINATED POLICIES TO ENSURE BETTER HYGIENIC PRACTICES IN 11 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AND (III) THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES TO 12 ASSIST THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN ESTABLISHING MATERIALS AND CURRICULA 13 TO BE USED IN PROVIDING CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO HEALTH CARE 14 PRACTITIONERS ON THE USE OF A HYGIENIC DRESS CODE TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD 15 OF DISEASE, INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL 16 PUBLIC. 17 (B) THE COUNCIL SHALL BE COMPOSED OF TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY 18 THE COMMISSIONER. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SEEK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 19 APPOINTMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPERINTENDENT 20 OF FINANCIAL SERVICES. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE 21 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF 22 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER, THE VARIOUS FACILITIES AND SETTINGS WITHIN THE 23 DEFINITION OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY, EDUCATORS OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITION- 24 ERS, CLEANING AND STERILIZATION SERVICES FOR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, 25 PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, AND INSURERS AND CORPORATIONS PROVIDING HEALTH 26 CARE COVERAGE. THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE A MEMBER THEREOF AS IS 27 SO DESIGNATED BY THE COMMISSIONER. 28 (C) THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE MAINTENANCE 29 AND CREATION OF SANITARY AND HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF 30 PATIENTS BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. THE 31 TERM OF OFFICE OF SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE FOUR YEARS. THE MEMBERS OF THE 32 COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE 33 ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR 34 DUTIES. 35 (D) THE COUNCIL SHALL MEET UPON THE CALL OF THE COMMISSIONER OR THE 36 CHAIR. THE COUNCIL MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THIS SECTION. 37 (E) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE SUCH EMPLOYEE AND PROVIDE FOR 38 OTHER RESOURCES OF THE DEPARTMENT AS MAY BE REASONABLY NECESSARY TO 39 PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL. 40 (F) THE COUNCIL MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO 41 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ON THE LATEST AND 42 BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES RELATED TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE 43 SPREAD OF DISEASE, INFECTION AND BACTERIA DURING THE COURSE OF TREATMENT 44 OF PATIENTS AS IT RELATES TO THE USE OF HYGIENIC HEALTH CARE PRACTITION- 45 ER CLOTHING, ATTIRE AND A DRESS CODE. 46 3. POLICIES TO BE CONSIDERED, EXAMINED AND POSSIBLY ADVANCED AFTER 47 EVIDENCE-BASED REVIEW BY THE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL SHALL CONSIDER AND 48 EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING POLICIES AND GUIDELINES IN THE ADOPTION OF RULES 49 AND REGULATIONS: 50 (A) THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION TO PATIENTS AND HEALTH 51 CARE PRACTITIONERS ON HOW ENHANCED SANITARY AND HYGIENIC POLICIES, 52 INCLUDING THE USE OF HYGIENIC HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER CLOTHING, ATTIRE 53 AND A DRESS CODE, CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CROSS-INFECTION; 54 (B) ENCOURAGING HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF 55 CLEAN SCRUBS, OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY IDEN- S. 6378 3 1 TIFICATION TAGS TO HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO ENSURE FREQUENT CHANGES 2 THEREOF; 3 (C) ENCOURAGING HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE CHANGING ROOMS, AND 4 INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO APPROPRIATELY WASH CLOTHING WORN BY HEALTH CARE 5 PRACTITIONERS; 6 (D) THE WEARING OF PATHOGEN-RESISTANT SCRUBS AND COATS, APRONS OR 7 SLIPS MADE OF PLASTIC OR WICKING MATERIALS, AND DOUBLE GLOVES; 8 (E) THE ADOPTION OF A PROHIBITION ON THE WEARING OUTSIDE OF A HEALTH 9 CARE FACILITY BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS OF CLOTHING WORN DURING 10 TREATMENT OF PATIENTS; AND 11 (F) CONSIDERATION OF ALTERATIONS IN MEDICAID AND PRIVATE PAYOR 12 REIMBURSEMENT RATES AND PRACTICES TO ENCOURAGE MORE OPTIMUM SANITARY AND 13 HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. 14 4. HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC RESOURCE CENTERS. THE COMMISSION- 15 ER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL, MAY DESIGNATE A HEALTH CARE PRAC- 16 TITIONER HYGIENIC RESOURCE CENTER OR CENTERS. SUCH RESOURCE CENTER MAY 17 BE STATEWIDE OR REGIONAL, AND SHALL ACT AS A SOURCE OF TECHNICAL 18 SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE FOR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND 19 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ON THE LATEST STRATEGIES AND BEST PRACTICES WITH 20 REGARD TO ESTABLISHING SANITARY AND HYGIENIC CONDITIONS FOR THE TREAT- 21 MENT OF PATIENTS. THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL, MAY 22 CONTRACT WITH NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS TO ESTABLISH 23 AND MANAGE SUCH RESOURCE CENTERS. SUCH RESOURCE CENTERS MAY CHARGE A FEE 24 TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES. 25 5. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS. THE COUNCIL, IN 26 CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH 27 CARE PRACTITIONER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SHALL DEVELOP, COMPILE AND 28 PUBLISH INFORMATION AND COURSE MATERIALS ON SANITARY AND HYGIENIC PRAC- 29 TICES THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND HEALTH 30 CARE FACILITIES TO MITIGATE AND ELIMINATE THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, 31 INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY 32 MEANS OF THE CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY IDENTIFICATION 33 TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND THE CLEANING PERSONNEL OF 34 SUCH FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF 35 THIS TITLE, THE COUNCIL SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EDUCATION 36 DEPARTMENT FOR THE COURSE WORK, TRAINING AND CURRICULUM TO BE INCLUDED 37 IN THE CONTINUING EDUCATION ON THE BEST PRACTICES, STRATEGIES AND 38 APPROACHES RELATED TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, 39 INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN 40 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES BY MEANS OF THE CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND HEALTH CARE 41 FACILITY IDENTIFICATION TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND THE 42 CLEANING PERSONNEL OF SUCH FACILITIES. 43 6. REPORT. ON OR BEFORE MARCH FIRST OF EACH EVEN NUMBERED YEAR, THE 44 COUNCIL SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER 45 OF EDUCATION, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE 46 ASSEMBLY, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE 47 ASSEMBLY, AND THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON HEALTH 48 A REPORT ON ITS ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE 49 RELATING TO SANITARY AND HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. 50 SUCH REPORT MAY ALSO INCLUDE SUCH LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AS IT DEEMS 51 NECESSARY TO MORE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE. 52 S 2. Paragraphs b and c of subdivision 3 of section 6507 of the educa- 53 tion law, as added by chapter 987 of the laws of 1971, are amended and a 54 new paragraph d is added to read as follows: 55 b. Review qualifications in connection with licensing requirements; 56 [and] S. 6378 4 1 c. Provide for licensing examinations and reexaminations[.]; AND 2 D. (I) ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR HEALTH CARE 3 PRACTITIONERS ON THE BEST PRACTICES, STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES RELATED 4 TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, INFECTION AND 5 BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN HEALTH CARE 6 FACILITIES BY MEANS OF THE CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY 7 IDENTIFICATION TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND THE CLEANING 8 PERSONNEL OF SUCH FACILITIES. IN PROMULGATION OF SUCH STANDARDS, THE 9 DEPARTMENT AND THE APPROPRIATE BOARD OF EACH SUCH PROFESSION SHALL 10 CONSIDER AND, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS 11 OF THE STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE COUNCIL. 12 (II) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH: 13 (A) "HEALTH CARE FACILITY" SHALL MEAN AND INCLUDE A HOSPITAL AND A 14 RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT 15 HUNDRED ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, AND ANY SETTING IN WHICH A HEALTH 16 CARE PRACTITIONER REGULARLY PRACTICES HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 17 (B) "HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON LICENSED AS A 18 PHYSICIAN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE, 19 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR SPECIALIST ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 20 HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE, NURSE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 21 HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE OF THIS TITLE, OR MIDWIFE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 22 HUNDRED FORTY OF THIS TITLE. 23 S 3. Section 2343 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 24 subsection (f) to read as follows: 25 (F) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL APPROVE AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO ENCOUR- 26 AGE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL MALPRAC- 27 TICE INSURERS TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE 28 PROGRAMS. SUCH PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE, BUT SHALL BE LIMITED TO, ENHANCED 29 COVERAGE LEVELS, REDUCTIONS IN DEDUCTIBLE LEVELS OR ACTUARIALLY APPRO- 30 PRIATE PREMIUM REDUCTION FOR INSURED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH 31 CARE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CARE PRACTI- 32 TIONER DRESS CODE PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO TITLE SIX OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE 33 PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 34 S 4. Section 3436 of the insurance law, as added by chapter 266 of the 35 laws of 1986, is amended by adding a new subsection (f) to read as 36 follows: 37 (F) AN INSURER WHICH ISSUES POLICIES FOR PRIMARY LEVELS OF MEDICAL 38 MALPRACTICE INSURANCE SHALL UPON THE ISSUANCE OR RENEWAL THEREOF, 39 PROVIDE FOR PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH CARE 40 FACILITIES AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURERS TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH 41 CARE PROVIDER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE PROGRAMS. SUCH PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE, 42 BUT SHALL BE LIMITED TO, ENHANCED COVERAGE LEVELS, REDUCTIONS IN DEDUCT- 43 IBLE LEVELS OR ACTUARIALLY APPROPRIATE PREMIUM REDUCTION FOR INSURED 44 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED 45 A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER DRESS CODE PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO 46 TITLE SIX OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, WHICH IS APPROVED BY 47 THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 48 S 5. Section 5505 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 49 subsection (e) to read as follows: 50 (E) THE ASSOCIATION'S RATES, RATING PLANS AND RATING CLASSIFICATIONS 51 SHALL PROVIDE FOR PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH 52 CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURERS TO PARTICIPATE IN 53 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE PROGRAMS. SUCH PROGRAMS MAY 54 INCLUDE, BUT SHALL BE LIMITED TO, ENHANCED COVERAGE LEVELS, REDUCTIONS 55 IN DEDUCTIBLE LEVELS OR ACTUARIALLY APPROPRIATE PREMIUM DISCOUNTS FOR 56 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED S. 6378 5 1 A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER DRESS CODE PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO 2 TITLE SIX OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, WHICH IS APPROVED BY 3 THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 4 S 6. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed- 5 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and section one of this 6 act shall expire and be deemed repealed January 1, 2023.