Major Stewardship Victory—Keep Up the Momentum

IDSA achieved a major victory in antibiotic stewardship late last month when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Medicare Condition of Participation requiring all hospitals to establish antibiotic stewardship programs. IDSA has led the charge in support of this important policy. Over the last several years, IDSA members repeatedly urged CMS to enact this policy and lobbied Congress and successfully persuaded Senators and Representatives in both parties to pressure CMS. We mobilized dozens of other organizations, including other medical and scientific societies, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies, public health and patient organizations. This is an important example of how well advocacy can work, and this policy will have a significant positive impact on patients and public health.

Our AMR work is not yet done. IDSA will continue to advocate for stewardship in all health care settings, better surveillance and data collection and resources to support the implementation of stewardship and the necessary ID workforce. Importantly, we will maintain our focus on incentives for the research and development of novel antibiotics. Help us by asking your Senators and Representatives to cosponsor the DISARM Act—a bill that will strengthen antibiotic reimbursement and require hospitals to report antibiotic use and resistance data to CDC.  Now is the time to build on the positive momentum to combat AMR.