September 15th, 2008

A plan that has been garnering praise from many citizens and groups across the state that would aim to reduce hospital-acquired infections may be delayed, reports the Associated Press.

The program will work by paying hospitals that reduce their number of infections by at least 10 percent. 

In response, hospitals were required to start collecting data on their infection rates in February.   However, not all of the hospitals have begun reporting their data, which is the reason the program might be delayed.  The officials in charge of setting up the benchmarks about how much to pay hospitals and other requirements for the program need data from all hospitals before they can finalize the program.

The program is intended to take effect on January 1.