Resolve, To Define High-risk Populations for the Purposes of Hospital Surveillance for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and To Implement Public Law 2009, chapter 346
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1687
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GOODE, CLARK, EVES, MARTIN, STEVENS, STUCKEY

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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'I J 
124th-MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1687 
H.P. 1188 
House of Representatives, January 6, 201 
Resolve, To Define High-risk Populations for the Purposes of 
Hospital Surveillance for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 
Aureus and To Implement Public Law 2009, chapter 346 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative GOODE of Bangor. 
7f/~ 
1J1: 77ldC~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CLARK of Millinocket, EVES of North Berwick, MARTIN 
of Orono, STEVENS of Bangor, STUCKEY of Portland. 
Prillll'd llll recycled parer 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment uniess enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, immediate initiation of screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 
aureus is critical to maintaining the health of the resIdents of the State; and 
Whereas, immediate initiation of screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 
aureus requires the adoption of a definition of high-ris~ populations and reporting of 
screening; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the .Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now; 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. ][mplementation of law. Resolved: 
That, to implement the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 8761, the Maine Quality Forum shall by April 1, 2010: 
1. 
Define· high-risk populations for the purposes of surveillance for methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus in all hospitals in this State, consistent with the federal 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, as persons who: 
A. Are critical care patients, cancer patients, fIIV patients, diabetes patients, dialysis 
patients, cardiac surgical patients, bariatric surgical patients, surgical patients or 
fonner surgical patients; 
B. Have had antibiotic therapy either repeatedly or within the recent past; 
C. Have had frequent and repeated health care contacts; 
p. Are long-tenn care patients, rehabilitation facility patients or nursing facility 
patients; 
. 
E. Have previously had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or have been 
caregivers for such persons; 
F. Have active psoriasis, a bum or other open sore; 
G. Have an indwelling catheter or other foreign body such as a feeding tube or 
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c~ntralline; 
. 
H. Are orthopedic patients admitted for joint replacement or hardware surgery; 
I. Are transferred from a prison or jail; 
J. Are homeless; 
K. Take drugs ·intravenously; or 
L. Are characterized as immunocompromised; and 
2. Require screening for all high-risk popUlations upon admission to the hospital and, 
for those persons screened negative upon admission, repeat screening: 
. 
. 
36. 
A. One week after admission; 
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B. Prior to transfer to a different critical care setting; and 
C. Prior to discharge; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Rulemaking. Resolved: That, by April 1,2010, the Maine Health Data 
Organization shall adopt rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 
87P8.:.A and Resolve 2009, chapter 82 to require the reporting of the results of screening 
for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus imreus by all hospitals in the State. The rules 
must require that hospitals report to the Maine Health Data Organization and to the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention all positive tests for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, including a 
designation of the infection as acquired in the community or hospital, based on a brief 
patient interview and the timing of acquisition of the infection. The rules must require 
reported infection data to be mac;ie available to the public through a publicly accessible 
website. The rules must enable reported test results to form the foundation for evaluating 
the progress of screening of high-risk populations and a new policy for the prevention of 
epidemiqlogically significant organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 
aureus. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375,subchapter 2-A. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve defines high-risk populations for Maine hospitals to screen for 
methicillin-resistant 
Staphylococcus 
aureus, 
known 
as 
MRSA, 
to 
facilitate 
implementation of Public Law 2009, chapter 346. In addition, this resolve requires that 
hospitals report positive test results to . the Maine Health Data Organization and the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Maine·· Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention.