The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), with advisement from the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), is responsible for many of the accepted national standards that we follow in healthcare. This includes recommendations for infection prevention and control of respiratory viruses and other communicable diseases. While recommendations are based on scientific evidence and data, real-world experiences can also help shape the application of the science. In recent years, for example, the real-world experience of aging services providers has helped to shape CDC recommendations for preventing and managing respiratory virus transmission among individuals with cognitive impairment.

LeadingAge’s national advocacy team shares our members’ experiences during regular meetings with CDC – but direct input from providers is needed and there are several channels open to the public. Hearing firsthand from a healthcare provider how certain guidelines and recommendations impact real people when they are operationalized will help ensure policies that are practical and actionable. For example, healthcare providers can provide first-hand accounts of the negative impacts on older adults of CDC guidelines for 10 days of isolation following respiratory virus infection or the use of enhanced barrier precautions for the duration of certain nursing home residents’ lives.

Did you know that you can provide feedback directly to CDC and HICPAC? There are three ways to provide feedback to HICPAC:

• Oral public comment: HICPAC meets up to eight times per year and meetings are open to the public. Each meeting includes time for public comment, when any member of the public can register to speak for an allotted amount of time.
• Written public comment: If HICPAC votes during a meeting to approve new or revised guidelines, these guidelines are posted to the Federal Register to allow the public opportunity to provide written comment on the guidelines.
• Email ANYTIME: Can’t wait for a meeting? Email HICPAC anytime to provide feedback on issues in healthcare infection control. Simply email HICPAC@cdc.gov. Describe your concern, tell why it matters to you, and offer HICPAC a solution. It’s that simple!