APIC Legislative Affairs
An important strategic goal of APIC National is to ensure that legislators and regulators have the best information to help them develop policies that create a safer world through the prevention of infection. It’s also important for APIC chapter members to be actively aware of pending legislation in our own state of New Jersey. Below you will find important resources to expand your legislative knowledge and tools to advocate for safer patient care!
UPDATE 5/2025
Click HERE for the most recent list of legislative issues
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Update 5/2024
Members should continue to monitor e-mails and sign up for alerts. Please note the NJDOH COVID-19 Disease Chapter was updated on 4/17/24.
The outbreak definitions for long-term care & LTACHs have changed
(one is not an outbreak) See page 12 for healthcare outbreak definitions:
•≥2 facility-onset confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases in patients/residents with illness onsets occurring within a 7-day period who are epidemiologically linked.
•≥2 confirmed, probable, or possible COVID-19 cases in HCP who are epidemiologically linked (e.g., having the potential to have been within 6 ft for 15 minutes or longer while working in the facility during the 7 days prior to the onset of symptoms) AND ≥1 confirmed or probable COVID-19 case(s) in a patient/resident with epidemiological linkage AND no other likely source of exposure is identified for at least 1 of the cases.
•≥3 confirmed, probable, or possible COVID-19 cases in HCP who are epidemiologically linked (e.g., having the potential to have been within 6 ft for 15 minutes or longer while working in the facility during the 7 days prior to the onset of symptoms) AND no other likely source of exposure is identified for at least 1 of the cases.
NJDOH COVID-19 Response Checklist for Nursing Homes and other Post-acute Care Settings updated to reflect public health actions when responding to COVID-19.
Legislative Update- Chapter Meeting October 2023- click here
Legislative Update- Chapter Meeting May 2023- click here
updated data from May 2023 - here
Legislative Update- Chapter Meeting April 2023- click here
Legislative Update- Chapter Meeting 3/17/2022
- Bill A4478 - Establishes additional requirements for DOH to assess sanctions and impose penalties on nursing homes; revises reporting requirements for nursing homes https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2020/A4478
- Includes when violations involve noncompliance with infection control requirements
- Requires all nursing homes to report into CDC NHSN Long-term care Facility Component
- Annual facility survey
- Monthly reporting plan
- Healthcare-associated infection reporting modules for:
- Urinary tract infections
- Lab ID for C. difficile and MDROS
- Process measures (hand hygiene, gloves, gown adherence)
- Public facing dashboard
- Call to Action for policymakers on improving our National Strategy for Pandemic Preparedness and Patient Safety
Added Covid-19 Information from the Legislative Chair posted 11/18/2021
All of the NJDOH COVID-19: Information for Healthcare Professionals information is available at https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_healthcare.shtml#3. These documents have been updated to align with current public health recommendations. Stay tuned for additional updates. As always, please continue to work with your local health department and public health colleagues.
Legislative Update from APIC Meeting 9/16/2021- click here
Legislative Update from APIC Meeting 9/15/2020- click here
Legislative Update from APIC Meeting 2/20/2020 - click here
Other Legislative Information: