Letter to healthcare systems regarding monkeypox

 

September 6, 2022    To all acute care hospitals,    I want to thank you all for your efforts in responding to COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) worked closely with hospitals and health systems to forge new partnerships and we collaborated to ensure ongoing care for patients, health care workers, and our communities. We are grateful for your partnership as we navigate another federally declared public health emergency.   As you are aware, HB 22-1401 was signed into law this summer, and it became effective on May 18, 2022. This post-pandemic legislation was designed to ensure that we have a robust, reliable, and predictable response to future public health emergencies. It is hard to believe that several months later, we find ourselves facing the growing monkeypox outbreak and needing to utilize this piece of legislation.    Under existing regulations, all hospitals are required to maintain emergency preparedness and infection prevention and control plans. Emergency preparedness plans are required under 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 4, Part 7, which directs hospitals to “develop and implement a comprehensive emergency management plan that . . . shall take into consideration . . . an outbreak by a novel and highly infectious agent . . .” Additionally, as to infection prevention and control, “the hospital shall have an infection prevention and control program responsible for the prevention, control, and investigation of infections and communicable diseases.” 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 4, Part 11.1(A). Furthermore, these policies and procedures “shall be based on nationally recognized guidelines and best practices.” 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 4, Part 11.2(D).    Additionally, pursuant to C.R.S. § 25-3-128(7)(b), beginning September 1, 2022, CDPHE requires hospitals to include in their emergency plans support for “all hospital facilities, including hospital-owned facilities, to provide any necessary, available, and appropriate preventive care, vaccine administration, diagnostic testing, and therapeutics” that should align with national best practices and standards in accordance with C.R.S. § 25-3-128(11).    I am writing today to notify all hospitals that we are invoking the section of this legislation that requires hospitals and hospital-owned facilities to prepare for testing, treatment, and vaccination for the declared monkeypox public health emergency.    In lieu of the inspections authorized by HB22-1401, all hospitals are required to provide an updated emergency plan that details how they will scale testing, treatment, and vaccination for monkeypox to the department by September 22, 2022. Plans should be submitted to: cdphe_infectionpreventionplan@state.co.us. These plans must be inclusive of hospital-owned primary care sites and implemented by October 8, 2022.    Thank you for your continued support as we work to keep Coloradoans safe and healthy.   Sincerely,   Jill Hunsaker Ryan