CRMD infections are difficult to manage.

• CRMD infection costs exceed reimbursement…

…And reimbursement for hospital-acquired infections is at risk.

• Medicare has begun to stop compensating hospitals for treating certain “reasonably preventable” Hospital  Acquired Conditions”
• Hospital Acquired Conditions (HACs) - high volume and high cost
• As of October 2008, eight preventable events including urinary-tract infections, vascular-catheter-associated infections and mediastinitis were categorized as “never pay” events
• CMS continues to require that hospitals report, and make publically available, 30 quality (outcome) measures
• CMS continues to require that hospitals report all diagnoses (e.g., infection) that were acquired during a hospital stay or Present on Admission (POA)
• CMS will perform a “robust program evaluation,” including POA analysis, to determine future changes to the HAC list  

1. 2009 national average reimbursement rates for DRG 243 and 227 derived from 2009 IPPS final rule: Wise, R. et al. Medical Supplies and Devices. Leerink Swan Healthcare Equity Research. May 4, 2009.

2. Darouiche, N Engl J Med 2004 350, 1422.