Bill Text: NY A07845 | 2011-2012 | 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 13-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-31 - print number 7845c [A07845 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A07845-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 7845 2011-2012 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y May 19, 2011 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred 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 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10964-03-1 A. 7845 2 1 HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THE EDUCATION LAW, NURSE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 2 HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE OF THE EDUCATION LAW, OR MIDWIFE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 ONE HUNDRED FORTY OF THE EDUCATION LAW. 4 2. STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE COUNCIL. (A) THE 5 STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE COUNCIL IS HEREBY 6 ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT TO BE AN EXPERT PANEL TO ADVISE THE 7 COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION ON: (I) THE BEST PRAC- 8 TICES RELATED TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, 9 INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN 10 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES BY MEANS OF THE UNHYGIENIC CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND 11 HEALTH CARE FACILITY IDENTIFICATION TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITION- 12 ERS AND THE CLEANING PERSONNEL OF SUCH FACILITIES, (II) THE PROMOTION OF 13 BETTER AND COORDINATED POLICIES TO ENSURE BETTER HYGIENIC PRACTICES IN 14 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AND (III) THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES TO 15 ASSIST THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN ESTABLISHING MATERIALS AND CURRICULA 16 TO BE USED IN PROVIDING CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO HEALTH CARE 17 PRACTITIONERS ON THE USE OF A HYGIENIC DRESS CODE TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD 18 OF DISEASE, INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL 19 PUBLIC. 20 (B) THE COUNCIL SHALL BE COMPOSED OF TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY 21 THE COMMISSIONER. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SEEK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 22 APPOINTMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPERINTENDENT 23 OF FINANCIAL SERVICES. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE 24 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF 25 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER, THE VARIOUS FACILITIES AND SETTINGS WITHIN THE 26 DEFINITION OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY, EDUCATORS OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITION- 27 ERS, CLEANING AND STERILIZATION SERVICES FOR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, 28 PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, AND INSURERS AND CORPORATIONS PROVIDING HEALTH 29 CARE COVERAGE. THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE A MEMBER THEREOF AS IS 30 SO DESIGNATED BY THE COMMISSIONER. 31 (C) THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE MAINTENANCE 32 AND CREATION OF SANITARY AND HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF 33 PATIENTS BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. THE 34 TERM OF OFFICE OF SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE FOUR YEARS. THE MEMBERS OF THE 35 COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE 36 ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR 37 DUTIES. 38 (D) THE COUNCIL SHALL MEET UPON THE CALL OF THE COMMISSIONER OR THE 39 CHAIR. THE COUNCIL MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THIS SECTION. 40 (E) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE SUCH EMPLOYEE AND PROVIDE FOR 41 OTHER RESOURCES OF THE DEPARTMENT AS MAY BE REASONABLY NECESSARY TO 42 PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL. 43 (F) THE COUNCIL MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO 44 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ON THE LATEST AND 45 BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES RELATED TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE 46 SPREAD OF DISEASE, INFECTION AND BACTERIA DURING THE COURSE OF TREATMENT 47 OF PATIENTS AS IT RELATES TO THE USE OF HYGIENIC HEALTH CARE PRACTITION- 48 ER CLOTHING, ATTIRE AND A DRESS CODE. 49 3. POLICIES TO BE CONSIDERED, EXAMINED AND POSSIBLY ADVANCED BY THE 50 COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL SHALL CONSIDER AND EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING POLICIES 51 AND GUIDELINES IN THE ADOPTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS: 52 (A) THE ADOPTION OF A BARE BELOW THE ELBOW POLICY OF HEALTH CARE PRAC- 53 TITIONERS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE WEARING OF 54 SHORT SLEEVE SHIRTS, A PROHIBITION ON THE WEARING OF WRISTWATCHES AND 55 OTHER JEWELRY, AND A PROHIBITION ON THE WEARING OF COATS OR JACKETS 56 WHILE PROVIDING TREATMENT TO PATIENTS; A. 7845 3 1 (B) THE ADOPTION OF A NO NECKTIES POLICY; 2 (C) THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION TO PATIENTS AND HEALTH 3 CARE PRACTITIONERS ON HOW ENHANCED SANITARY AND HYGIENIC POLICIES, 4 INCLUDING THE USE OF HYGENIC HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER CLOTHING, ATTIRE 5 AND A DRESS CODE, CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CROSS-INFECTION; 6 (D) ENCOURAGING HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF 7 CLEAN SCRUBS, OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY IDEN- 8 TIFICATION TAGS TO HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO ENSURE FREQUENT CHANGES 9 THEREOF; 10 (E) ENCOURAGING HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ON-SITE LAUNDRY 11 SERVICES AND CHANGING ROOMS, AND INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO APPROPRIATELY 12 WASH CLOTHING WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS; 13 (F) THE WEARING OF PLASTIC APRONS AND DOUBLE GLOVES BY HEALTH CARE 14 PRACTITIONERS DURING THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS; 15 (G) THE ADOPTION OF A PROHIBITION ON THE WEARING OUTSIDE OF A HEALTH 16 CARE FACILITY BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS OF CLOTHING WORN DURING 17 TREATMENT OF PATIENTS; AND 18 (H) CONSIDERATION OF ALTERATIONS IN MEDICAID AND PRIVATE PAYOR 19 REIMBURSEMENT RATES AND PRACTICES TO ENCOURAGE MORE OPTIMUM SANITARY AND 20 HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. 21 4. HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC RESOURCE CENTERS. THE COMMISSION- 22 ER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL, MAY DESIGNATE A HEALTH CARE PRAC- 23 TITIONER HYGIENIC RESOURCE CENTER OR CENTERS. SUCH RESOURCE CENTER MAY 24 BE STATEWIDE OR REGIONAL, AND SHALL ACT AS A SOURCE OF TECHNICAL 25 SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE FOR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND 26 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ON THE LATEST STRATEGIES AND BEST PRACTICES WITH 27 REGARD TO ESTABLISHING SANITARY AND HYGIENIC CONDITIONS FOR THE TREAT- 28 MENT OF PATIENTS. THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL, MAY 29 CONTRACT WITH NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS TO ESTABLISH 30 AND MANAGE SUCH RESOURCE CENTERS. SUCH RESOURCE CENTERS MAY CHARGE A FEE 31 TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES. 32 5. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS. THE COUNCIL, IN 33 CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH 34 CARE PRACTITIONER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SHALL DEVELOP, COMPILE AND 35 PUBLISH INFORMATION AND COURSE MATERIALS ON SANITARY AND HYGIENIC PRAC- 36 TICES THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND HEALTH 37 CARE FACILITIES TO MITIGATE AND ELIMINATE THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, 38 INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY 39 MEANS OF THE CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY IDENTIFICATION 40 TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND THE CLEANING PERSONNEL OF 41 SUCH FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF 42 THIS TITLE, THE COUNCIL SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EDUCATION 43 DEPARTMENT FOR THE COURSE WORK, TRAINING AND CURRICULUM TO BE INCLUDED 44 IN THE CONTINUING EDUCATION ON THE BEST PRACTICES, STRATEGIES AND 45 APPROACHES RELATED TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, 46 INFECTION AND BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN 47 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES BY MEANS OF THE CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND HEALTH CARE 48 FACILITY IDENTIFICATION TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND THE 49 CLEANING PERSONNEL OF SUCH FACILITIES. 50 6. REPORT. ON OR BEFORE MARCH FIRST OF EACH ODD NUMBERED YEAR, THE 51 COUNCIL SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER 52 OF EDUCATION, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE 53 ASSEMBLY, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE 54 ASSEMBLY, AND THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON HEALTH 55 A REPORT ON ITS ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE 56 RELATING TO SANITARY AND HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. A. 7845 4 1 SUCH REPORT MAY ALSO INCLUDE SUCH LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AS IT DEEMS 2 NECESSARY TO MORE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE. 3 S 2. Paragraphs b and c of subdivision 3 of section 6507 of the educa- 4 tion law, as added by chapter 987 of the laws of 1971, are amended and a 5 new paragraph d is added to read as follows: 6 b. Review qualifications in connection with licensing requirements; 7 [and] 8 c. Provide for licensing examinations and reexaminations[.]; AND 9 D. (I) ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR HEALTH CARE 10 PRACTITIONERS ON THE BEST PRACTICES, STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES RELATED 11 TO MITIGATING AND ELIMINATING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, INFECTION AND 12 BACTERIA TO PATIENTS, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN HEALTH CARE 13 FACILITIES BY MEANS OF THE CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY 14 IDENTIFICATION TAGS WORN BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND THE CLEANING 15 PERSONNEL OF SUCH FACILITIES. IN PROMULGATION OF SUCH STANDARDS, THE 16 DEPARTMENT AND THE APPROPRIATE BOARD OF EACH SUCH PROFESSION SHALL 17 CONSIDER AND, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS 18 OF THE STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE COUNCIL. 19 (II) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH: 20 (A) "HEALTH CARE FACILITY" SHALL MEAN AND INCLUDE A HOSPITAL AND A 21 RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT 22 HUNDRED ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, AND ANY SETTING IN WHICH A HEALTH 23 CARE PRACTITIONER REGULARLY PRACTICES HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 24 (B) "HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON LICENSED AS A 25 PHYSICIAN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE, 26 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR SPECIALIST ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 27 HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE, NURSE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 28 HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE OF THIS TITLE, OR MIDWIFE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE 29 HUNDRED FORTY OF THIS TITLE. 30 S 3. Section 2343 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 31 subsection (f) to read as follows: 32 (F) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL APPROVE AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO ENCOUR- 33 AGE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL MALPRAC- 34 TICE INSURERS TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE 35 PROGRAMS. SUCH PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE, BUT SHALL BE LIMITED TO, ENHANCED 36 COVERAGE LEVELS, REDUCTIONS IN DEDUCTIBLE LEVELS OR ACTUARIALLY APPRO- 37 PRIATE PREMIUM REDUCTION FOR INSURED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH 38 CARE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CARE PRACTI- 39 TIONER DRESS CODE PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO TITLE SIX OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE 40 PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 41 S 4. Section 3436 of the insurance law, as added by chapter 266 of the 42 laws of 1986, is amended by adding a new subsection (f) to read as 43 follows: 44 (F) AN INSURER WHICH ISSUES POLICIES FOR PRIMARY LEVELS OF MEDICAL 45 MALPRACTICE INSURANCE SHALL UPON THE ISSUANCE OR RENEWAL THEREOF, 46 PROVIDE FOR PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH CARE 47 FACILITIES AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURERS TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH 48 CARE PROVIDER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE PROGRAMS. SUCH PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE, 49 BUT SHALL BE LIMITED TO, ENHANCED COVERAGE LEVELS, REDUCTIONS IN DEDUCT- 50 IBLE LEVELS OR ACTUARIALLY APPROPRIATE PREMIUM REDUCTION FOR INSURED 51 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED 52 A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER DRESS CODE PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO 53 TITLE SIX OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, WHICH IS APPROVED BY 54 THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 55 S 5. Section 5505 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 56 subsection (e) to read as follows: A. 7845 5 1 (E) THE ASSOCIATION'S RATES, RATING PLANS AND RATING CLASSIFICATIONS 2 SHALL PROVIDE FOR PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH 3 CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURERS TO PARTICIPATE IN 4 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER HYGIENIC DRESS CODE PROGRAMS. SUCH PROGRAMS MAY 5 INCLUDE, BUT SHALL BE LIMITED TO, ENHANCED COVERAGE LEVELS, REDUCTIONS 6 IN DEDUCTIBLE LEVELS OR ACTUARIALLY APPROPRIATE PREMIUM DISCOUNTS FOR 7 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED 8 A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER DRESS CODE PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO 9 TITLE SIX OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, WHICH IS APPROVED BY 10 THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. 11 S 6. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed- 12 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and section one of this 13 act shall expire and be deemed repealed January 1, 2020.