TRSA’s California Title 22 Reform Bill Passed Unanimously
TRSA’s efforts to reform California’s Title 22 rule, which regulates the laundering of healthcare linen, recently took a huge step forward when the California State Assembly approved the measure by unanimous vote. AB 2679, authored by Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), directs the California Department of Health to reform the outdated prescriptive method of laundering healthcare linens to include more modern, effective and efficient methods.
“We still have a ways to go to enact this piece of legislation,” said Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations, speaking of the May 3 Assembly vote. “But this is huge step in the right direction. The unanimous vote shows the recognition of the linen, uniform and facility services industry on public policy.”
Title 22, specifically Sub-Section 70825 part (a) number (4) of Title 22 offers a prescribed method of laundry processing to be:
(4) Hospital linens shall be washed according to the following method:
All Linens shall be washed using an effective soap or detergent and thoroughly rinsed to remove soap or detergent and soil. Linens shall be exposed to water at a minimum temperature of 71 degrees C (160 degrees F) for at least 24 minutes during the washing process.
While Title 22 regulates healthcare facilities, number (8) of part (a) goes on to include commercial laundries that process linens for healthcare facilities:
(8) If the hospital does not maintain a laundry service, the commercial laundry utilized shall meet the standards of this section.
The laundering process described above, while effective in hygienically cleaning laundry, is no longer the most efficient method of processing laundry. Advances in technologies in the commercial laundry process have created alternative means to the same end. These include extensively researched and documented improvements in the way washing machines perform mechanical action, the heat of dryers and ironers, and the evolution of wash chemicals to be more effective at lower temperatures.
TRSA looks forward to working the process through the California State Senate.