The Medical Waste Tracking Act's impact on the hospitals within the demonstration program

Despite indisputable evidence that it is not harmful, the medical waste issue just will not die. Congress is considering new, even tougher medical waste regulations; more and more states are enacting their own rules; hospitals are running out of reasonable options. In this issue, HHMM publishes the VHA medical waste cost study. CHEM feels that the survey is important because it demonstrates in hard numbers how medical waste regulation has increased the cost of healthcare. Hospitals should make sure that their state and local associations are aware of the VHA study--and they should pass it on to their congressional representatives and senators. If lawmakers will not be persuaded by technical reports, perhaps they will pay attention to cold cash.