​This letter is being sent to notify you of new legislation, effective January 1, 2010, which affects connection port prohibitions.

AB 818 (Hernandez, Chapter 476, Statutes of 2009) amends Health and Safety Code (HSC) 1279.7 and changes existing connection port prohibitions. AB 818 provides that all health facilities licensed pursuant to HSC Sections 1250(a), (b), (c), or (f) shall be prohibited from using an epidural connection that would fit into a connection port other that the type it was intended. The epidural connection prohibition would commence 36 months after the publication of new epidural connection design standards by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or January 1, 2014, whichever occurs first. Once effected, this law prohibits the use of an epidural connection that would fit into another connection port unless an emergency or urgent situation exists and the prohibition would impair the ability to provide health care.

AB 818 also states that all health facilities licensed pursuant to HSC Sections 1250(a), (b), (c), or (f) shall be prohibited from using an intravenous connection or enteral feeding connection that would fit into a connection port other that the type it was intended. The intravenous and enteral feeding connection prohibition would commence 24 months after the publication of new intravenous and enteral feeding connection design standards by the ISO or January 1, 2013, whichever occurs first. Once effected, this law prohibits the use of an intravenous and enteral feeding connection that would fit into another connection port unless an emergency or urgent situation exists and the prohibition would impair the ability to provide health care.

Lastly, AB 818 requires health facilities licensed pursuant to HSC Sections 1250(a), (b), (c), or (f) to include patient safety plan measures per HSC Section 1279.6, to prevent adverse events associated with misconnecting intravenous, enteral feeding, and epidural lines in their patient safety plans. The prevention measure provision shall become inoperative upon the effective dates of each prohibition.

The information in this All Facilities Letter provides notification of AB 818 relative to connection port prohibitions. Facilities should refer to the full text to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. CDPH's failure to expressly notify facilities of legislative changes does not relieve facilities of their responsibility for following all laws and for being aware of all legislative changes.

If you have any questions, please contact your respective L&C District Office.

Sincerely,

Original Signed by Kathleen Billingsley, R.N.

Kathleen Billingsley, R.N.
Deputy Director
Center for Health Care Quality