The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Hospital Compare Website now includes data on healthcare-associated infections. According to CMS, the publication of this data will help hold hospitals accountable for bringing down the rates of infections.

The current infection data published on the website includes facility-specific data on central-line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs). In its press release, CMS reports that CLABSIs result in thousands of deaths each year and approximately $700 million in additional health care costs. The CDC estimates that 41,000 CLABSIs occurred in U.S. hospitals in 2009, and up to 25% of patients with CLABSIs die from the infection.

CMS’ Hospital Compare website compares each hospital facility with the U.S. National benchmark and state standards. Hospitals were required to report data on central line infections to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as of January 2011 as a condition of receiving the 2013 payment update. The Hospital Compare website provides data on over 4,700 U.S. hospitals, including data on process of care, outcome of care, medical imaging, patient experiences, and patient safety. The new infection data is located under the patient safety measures tab of each hospital.