APIC Conference to Address New CMS Regulations

September Meeting Will Provide Healthcare Leaders With Information and Best
Practices Related to Upcoming Federal Reimbursement Cuts for HAIs

WASHINGTON, April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The new Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations that will eliminate or reduce payments for
three hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) will be the subject of a two-day
conference for healthcare executives and professionals sponsored by the
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
"Mastering the New CMS Regulation: Implications for Infection Prevention &
Control," takes place September 22-23, 2008 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in
Arlington, VA.

Beginning October 1, 2008, CMS will no longer reimburse hospitals for costs
related to eight preventable conditions, including three HAIs:
catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs), catheter-associated blood
stream infections, and mediastinitis (a deep infection following coronary
artery bypass surgery). The APIC conference will present information on how
leading institutions are managing the clinical and economic impact of the new
HAI regulations and practical strategies to assist facilities with compliance.

"We see this as an important opportunity to help clinical and administrative
leaders work together to reduce infection, improve outcomes and preserve
healthcare resources," said APIC Chief Executive Officer Kathy L. Warye. "The
conference will offer the most current information from CMS, as well as best
practices and ways of approaching quality improvement to achieve reductions in
HAIs."

Thomas Valuck, MD, JD, Director, Special Program Office for Value-Based
Purchasing, CMS, will serve as conference keynote speaker. Additional
presenters include Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, Professor, Department of Internal
Medicine, University of Michigan Health System; Daniel Varga, MD, Chief
Medical Officer, SSM Healthcare, St. Louis, MO; Chesley Richards, MD, MPH,
FACP, Deputy Director, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC; Nellie
Leon-Chisen, RHIA, Director, Coding and Classification, American Hospital
Association; and P.J. Brennan, MD, Chief of Healthcare Quality and Patient
Safety, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

"Eliminating preventable infections is what is best for patients and
healthcare institutions," said APIC's 2008 President Janet E. Frain, RN, CIC,
CPHQ, CPHRM, Director, Integrated Services, Sutter Medical Center in
Sacramento, CA. "We look forward to convening experts from CMS, CDC and
leading healthcare institutions to offer a premier learning opportunity that
will equip healthcare professionals to better direct performance initiatives
that drive compliance with effective infection prevention and control
measures."

APIC's mission is to improve health and patient safety by reducing risks of
infection and other adverse outcomes. The Association's nearly 12,000 members
have primary responsibility for infection prevention, control and hospital
epidemiology in healthcare settings around the globe. APIC advances its
mission through education, research, collaboration, practice guidance, public
policy, and credentialing. Visit APIC online at www.apic.org.

SOURCE Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

Liz Garman of Association for Professionals in Infection Control and
Epidemiology, +1-202-454-2604, +1-202-365-7421 (cell), egarman@apic.org