(a) A health facility shall collect data on healthcare-associated infection rates for the following:
(1) Central line-associated bloodstream infections in an intensive care unit; and
(2) Other categories as provided under § 20-9-1204(e).
(b)
(1)
(A) A health facility may voluntarily submit quarterly reports to the Department of Health on the health facility's healthcare-associated infection rates.
(B)
(i) If a health facility elects to submit quarterly reports, the reports shall be submitted to the department:
(a) In a format prescribed by the department; and
(b) By April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31 of each year.
(ii) Each quarterly report shall cover the immediately preceding calendar quarter.
(C) Data in the quarterly reports shall cover a period ending not earlier than one (1) month before the submission of the report.
(2) If the health facility is a division or subsidiary of another entity that owns or operates other health facilities, the quarterly report shall be for the specific division or subsidiary and not for the other entity.
(c)
(1) A health facility participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program or its successor shall authorize the department to have access to the following information that the health facility submits to the National Healthcare Safety Network:
(A) The name of the health facility; and
(B) Any information submitted to the National Healthcare Safety Network in order to satisfy the requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.
(2) The information contained in the National Healthcare Safety Network database and obtained by the department under this section may be used by the department for surveillance and prevention purposes only and shall not be used for regulatory purposes.