House Bill 0591c2

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2000           CS/CS/HB 591

        By the Committees on Governmental Rules & Regulations,
    Health Care Licensing & Regulation and Representatives Minton,
    Tullis, Johnson and Greenstein




  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to health care services;

  3         amending s. 400.471, F.S.; deleting the

  4         certificate-of-need requirement for licensure

  5         of Medicare-certified home health agencies;

  6         amending s. 400.606, F.S.; conforming to the

  7         act provisions relating to certificate-of-need

  8         requirements for hospice licensure; amending s.

  9         408.032, F.S.; revising definitions; amending

10         s. 408.033, F.S.; deleting references to the

11         state health plan; amending s. 408.034, F.S.;

12         deleting a reference to licensing of home

13         health agencies by the Agency for Health Care

14         Administration; amending s. 408.035, F.S.;

15         deleting obsolete certificate-of-need review

16         criteria and revising other criteria; amending

17         s. 408.036, F.S.; revising provisions relating

18         to projects subject to review; deleting

19         references to Medicare-certified home health

20         agencies; deleting the review of certain

21         acquisitions; specifying the types of bed

22         increases subject to review; deleting cost

23         overruns from review; deleting review of

24         combinations or division of nursing home

25         certificates of need; providing for expedited

26         review of certain conversions of licensed

27         hospital beds; deleting the requirement for an

28         exemption for initiation or expansion of

29         obstetric services, provision of respite care

30         services, establishment of a Medicare-certified

31         home health agency, or provision of a health

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  1         service exclusively on an outpatient basis;

  2         providing a sunset date for review of the

  3         establishment of a hospice program or hospice

  4         inpatient facility; providing exemptions for

  5         combinations or divisions of nursing home

  6         certificates of need and additions of certain

  7         hospital beds and nursing home beds within

  8         specified limitations; requiring a fee for each

  9         request for exemption; amending s. 408.037,

10         F.S.; deleting reference to the state health

11         plan; amending ss. 408.038, 408.039, 408.044,

12         and 408.045, F.S.; replacing "department" with

13         "agency"; clarifying the opportunity to

14         challenge an intended award of a certificate of

15         need; amending s. 408.040, F.S.; deleting an

16         obsolete reference; revising the format of

17         conditions related to Medicaid; creating a

18         certificate-of-need workgroup within the Agency

19         for Health Care Administration; providing for

20         expenses; providing membership, duties, and

21         meetings; providing for termination; amending

22         s. 401.25, F.S.; providing that certain

23         municipalities may issue the certificate of

24         public convenience and necessity required for

25         licensure as a basic or an advanced life

26         support service; amending s. 651.118, F.S.;

27         excluding a specified number of beds from a

28         time limit imposed on extension of

29         authorization for continuing care residential

30         community providers to use sheltered beds for

31         nonresidents; requiring a facility to report

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  1         such use after the expiration of the extension;

  2         repealing s. 400.464(3), F.S., relating to home

  3         health agency licenses provided to

  4         certificate-of-need exempt entities; providing

  5         effective dates.

  6

  7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  8

  9         Section 1.  Subsections (2) and (11) of section

10  400.471, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

11         400.471  Application for license; fee; provisional

12  license; temporary permit.--

13         (2)  The applicant must file with the application

14  satisfactory proof that the home health agency is in

15  compliance with this part and applicable rules, including:

16         (a)  A listing of services to be provided, either

17  directly by the applicant or through contractual arrangements

18  with existing providers;

19         (b)  The number and discipline of professional staff to

20  be employed; and

21         (c)  Proof of financial ability to operate.

22

23  If the applicant has applied for a certificate of need under

24  ss. 408.0331-408.045 within the preceding 12 months, the

25  applicant may submit the proof required during the

26  certificate-of-need process along with an attestation that

27  there has been no substantial change in the facts and

28  circumstances underlying the original submission.

29         (11)  The agency may not issue a license designated as

30  certified to a home health agency that fails to receive a

31  certificate of need under ss. 408.031-408.045 or that fails to

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  1  satisfy the requirements of a Medicare certification survey

  2  from the agency.

  3         Section 2.  Subsections (5) and (6) of section 400.606,

  4  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  5         400.606  License; application; renewal; conditional

  6  license or permit; certificate of need.--

  7         (5)  The agency shall not issue a license to a hospice

  8  that fails to receive a certificate of need if required under

  9  the provisions of ss. 408.031-408.045. A licensed hospice is a

10  health care facility as that term is used in s. 408.039(5) and

11  is entitled to initiate or intervene in an administrative

12  hearing.

13         (6)  A freestanding hospice facility that is primarily

14  engaged in providing inpatient and related services and that

15  is not otherwise licensed as a health care facility shall be

16  required to obtain a certificate of need if required under the

17  provisions of ss. 408.031-408.045. However, a freestanding

18  hospice facility with six or fewer beds shall not be required

19  to comply with institutional standards such as, but not

20  limited to, standards requiring sprinkler systems, emergency

21  electrical systems, or special lavatory devices.

22         Section 3.  Section 408.032, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         408.032  Definitions.--As used in ss. 408.031-408.045,

25  the term:

26         (1)  "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care

27  Administration.

28         (2)  "Capital expenditure" means an expenditure,

29  including an expenditure for a construction project undertaken

30  by a health care facility as its own contractor, which, under

31  generally accepted accounting principles, is not properly

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  1  chargeable as an expense of operation and maintenance, which

  2  is made to change the bed capacity of the facility, or

  3  substantially change the services or service area of the

  4  health care facility, health service provider, or hospice, and

  5  which includes the cost of the studies, surveys, designs,

  6  plans, working drawings, specifications, initial financing

  7  costs, and other activities essential to acquisition,

  8  improvement, expansion, or replacement of the plant and

  9  equipment.

10         (3)  "Certificate of need" means a written statement

11  issued by the agency evidencing community need for a new,

12  converted, expanded, or otherwise significantly modified

13  health care facility, health service, or hospice.

14         (4)  "Commenced construction" means initiation of and

15  continuous activities beyond site preparation associated with

16  erecting or modifying a health care facility, including

17  procurement of a building permit applying the use of

18  agency-approved construction documents, proof of an executed

19  owner/contractor agreement or an irrevocable or binding forced

20  account, and actual undertaking of foundation forming with

21  steel installation and concrete placing.

22         (5)  "District" means a health service planning

23  district composed of the following counties:

24         District 1.--Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton

25  Counties.

26         District 2.--Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson,

27  Franklin, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Calhoun, Leon, Wakulla,

28  Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor Counties.

29         District 3.--Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie,

30  Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Union, Bradford, Putnam, Alachua,

31  Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, and Lake Counties.

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  1         District 4.--Baker, Nassau, Duval, Clay, St. Johns,

  2  Flagler, and Volusia Counties.

  3         District 5.--Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

  4         District 6.--Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk, Hardee, and

  5  Highlands Counties.

  6         District 7.--Seminole, Orange, Osceola, and Brevard

  7  Counties.

  8         District 8.--Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, Glades,

  9  Hendry, and Collier Counties.

10         District 9.--Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie,

11  Martin, and Palm Beach Counties.

12         District 10.--Broward County.

13         District 11.--Dade and Monroe Counties.

14         (6)  "Exemption" means the process by which a proposal

15  that would otherwise require a certificate of need may proceed

16  without a certificate of need.

17         (7)(6)  "Expedited review" means the process by which

18  certain types of applications are not subject to the review

19  cycle requirements contained in s. 408.039(1), and the letter

20  of intent requirements contained in s. 408.039(2).

21         (8)(7)  "Health care facility" means a hospital,

22  long-term care hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice,

23  intermediate care facility, or intermediate care facility for

24  the developmentally disabled. A facility relying solely on

25  spiritual means through prayer for healing is not included as

26  a health care facility.

27         (9)(8)  "Health services" means diagnostic, curative,

28  or rehabilitative services and includes alcohol treatment,

29  drug abuse treatment, and mental health services. Obstetric

30  services are not health services for purposes of ss.

31  408.031-408.045.

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  1         (9)  "Home health agency" means an organization, as

  2  defined in s. 400.462(4), that is certified or seeks

  3  certification as a Medicare home health service provider.

  4         (10)  "Hospice" or "hospice program" means a hospice as

  5  defined in part VI of chapter 400.

  6         (11)  "Hospital" means a health care facility licensed

  7  under chapter 395.

  8         (12)  "Institutional health service" means a health

  9  service which is provided by or through a health care facility

10  and which entails an annual operating cost of $500,000 or

11  more.  The agency shall, by rule, adjust the annual operating

12  cost threshold annually using an appropriate inflation index.

13         (13)  "Intermediate care facility" means an institution

14  which provides, on a regular basis, health-related care and

15  services to individuals who do not require the degree of care

16  and treatment which a hospital or skilled nursing facility is

17  designed to provide, but who, because of their mental or

18  physical condition, require health-related care and services

19  above the level of room and board.

20         (12)(14)  "Intermediate care facility for the

21  developmentally disabled" means a residential facility

22  licensed under chapter 393 and certified by the Federal

23  Government pursuant to the Social Security Act as a provider

24  of Medicaid services to persons who are mentally retarded or

25  who have a related condition.

26         (13)(15)  "Long-term care hospital" means a hospital

27  licensed under chapter 395 which meets the requirements of 42

28  C.F.R. s. 412.23(e) and seeks exclusion from the Medicare

29  prospective payment system for inpatient hospital services.

30         (14)  "Mental health services" means inpatient services

31  provided in a hospital licensed under chapter 395 and listed

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  1  on the hospital license as psychiatric beds for adults;

  2  psychiatric beds for children and adolescents; intensive

  3  residential treatment beds for children and adolescents;

  4  substance abuse beds for adults; or substance abuse beds for

  5  children and adolescents.

  6         (16)  "Multifacility project" means an integrated

  7  residential and health care facility consisting of independent

  8  living units, assisted living facility units, and nursing home

  9  beds certificated on or after January 1, 1987, where:

10         (a)  The aggregate total number of independent living

11  units and assisted living facility units exceeds the number of

12  nursing home beds.

13         (b)  The developer of the project has expended the sum

14  of $500,000 or more on the certificated and noncertificated

15  elements of the project combined, exclusive of land costs, by

16  the conclusion of the 18th month of the life of the

17  certificate of need.

18         (c)  The total aggregate cost of construction of the

19  certificated element of the project, when combined with other,

20  noncertificated elements, is $10 million or more.

21         (d)  All elements of the project are contiguous or

22  immediately adjacent to each other and construction of all

23  elements will be continuous.

24         (15)(17)  "Nursing home geographically underserved

25  area" means:

26         (a)  A county in which there is no existing or approved

27  nursing home;

28         (b)  An area with a radius of at least 20 miles in

29  which there is no existing or approved nursing home; or

30         (c)  An area with a radius of at least 20 miles in

31  which all existing nursing homes have maintained at least a 95

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  1  percent occupancy rate for the most recent 6 months or a 90

  2  percent occupancy rate for the most recent 12 months.

  3         (18)  "Respite care" means short-term care in a

  4  licensed health care facility which is personal or custodial

  5  and is provided for chronic illness, physical infirmity, or

  6  advanced age for the purpose of temporarily relieving family

  7  members of the burden of providing care and attendance.

  8         (16)(19)  "Skilled nursing facility" means an

  9  institution, or a distinct part of an institution, which is

10  primarily engaged in providing, to inpatients, skilled nursing

11  care and related services for patients who require medical or

12  nursing care, or rehabilitation services for the

13  rehabilitation of injured, disabled, or sick persons.

14         (17)(20)  "Tertiary health service" means a health

15  service which, due to its high level of intensity, complexity,

16  specialized or limited applicability, and cost, should be

17  limited to, and concentrated in, a limited number of hospitals

18  to ensure the quality, availability, and cost-effectiveness of

19  such service. Examples of such service include, but are not

20  limited to, organ transplantation, specialty burn units,

21  neonatal intensive care units, comprehensive rehabilitation,

22  and medical or surgical services which are experimental or

23  developmental in nature to the extent that the provision of

24  such services is not yet contemplated within the commonly

25  accepted course of diagnosis or treatment for the condition

26  addressed by a given service.  The agency shall establish by

27  rule a list of all tertiary health services.

28         (18)(21)  "Regional area" means any of those regional

29  health planning areas established by the agency to which local

30  and district health planning funds are directed to local

31  health councils through the General Appropriations Act.

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  1         Section 4.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and

  2  paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 408.033, Florida

  3  Statutes, are amended to read:

  4         408.033  Local and state health planning.--

  5         (1)  LOCAL HEALTH COUNCILS.--

  6         (b)  Each local health council may:

  7         1.  Develop a district or regional area health plan

  8  that permits is consistent with the objectives and strategies

  9  in the state health plan, but that shall permit each local

10  health council to develop strategies and set priorities for

11  implementation based on its unique local health needs.  The

12  district or regional area health plan must contain preferences

13  for the development of health services and facilities, which

14  may be considered by the agency in its review of

15  certificate-of-need applications.  The district health plan

16  shall be submitted to the agency and updated periodically. The

17  district health plans shall use a uniform format and be

18  submitted to the agency according to a schedule developed by

19  the agency in conjunction with the local health councils. The

20  schedule must provide for coordination between the development

21  of the state health plan and the district health plans and for

22  the development of district health plans by major sections

23  over a multiyear period.  The elements of a district plan

24  which are necessary to the review of certificate-of-need

25  applications for proposed projects within the district may be

26  adopted by the agency as a part of its rules.

27         2.  Advise the agency on health care issues and

28  resource allocations.

29         3.  Promote public awareness of community health needs,

30  emphasizing health promotion and cost-effective health service

31  selection.

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  1         4.  Collect data and conduct analyses and studies

  2  related to health care needs of the district, including the

  3  needs of medically indigent persons, and assist the agency and

  4  other state agencies in carrying out data collection

  5  activities that relate to the functions in this subsection.

  6         5.  Monitor the onsite construction progress, if any,

  7  of certificate-of-need approved projects and report council

  8  findings to the agency on forms provided by the agency.

  9         6.  Advise and assist any regional planning councils

10  within each district that have elected to address health

11  issues in their strategic regional policy plans with the

12  development of the health element of the plans to address the

13  health goals and policies in the State Comprehensive Plan.

14         7.  Advise and assist local governments within each

15  district on the development of an optional health plan element

16  of the comprehensive plan provided in chapter 163, to assure

17  compatibility with the health goals and policies in the State

18  Comprehensive Plan and district health plan.  To facilitate

19  the implementation of this section, the local health council

20  shall annually provide the local governments in its service

21  area, upon request, with:

22         a.  A copy and appropriate updates of the district

23  health plan;

24         b.  A report of hospital and nursing home utilization

25  statistics for facilities within the local government

26  jurisdiction; and

27         c.  Applicable agency rules and calculated need

28  methodologies for health facilities and services regulated

29  under s. 408.034 for the district served by the local health

30  council.

31

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  1         8.  Monitor and evaluate the adequacy, appropriateness,

  2  and effectiveness, within the district, of local, state,

  3  federal, and private funds distributed to meet the needs of

  4  the medically indigent and other underserved population

  5  groups.

  6         9.  In conjunction with the Agency for Health Care

  7  Administration, plan for services at the local level for

  8  persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

  9         10.  Provide technical assistance to encourage and

10  support activities by providers, purchasers, consumers, and

11  local, regional, and state agencies in meeting the health care

12  goals, objectives, and policies adopted by the local health

13  council.

14         11.  Provide the agency with data required by rule for

15  the review of certificate-of-need applications and the

16  projection of need for health services and facilities in the

17  district.

18         (3)  DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AGENCY.--

19         (a)  The agency, in conjunction with the local health

20  councils, is responsible for the coordinated planning of all

21  health care services in the state and for the preparation of

22  the state health plan.

23         Section 5.  Subsection (2) of section 408.034, Florida

24  Statutes, is amended to read:

25         408.034  Duties and responsibilities of agency;

26  rules.--

27         (2)  In the exercise of its authority to issue licenses

28  to health care facilities and health service providers, as

29  provided under chapters 393, 395, and parts II, IV, and VI of

30  chapter 400, the agency may not issue a license to any health

31  care facility, health service provider, hospice, or part of a

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  1  health care facility which fails to receive a certificate of

  2  need or an exemption for the licensed facility or service.

  3         Section 6.  Section 408.035, Florida Statutes, is

  4  amended to read:

  5         408.035  Review criteria.--

  6         (1)  The agency shall determine the reviewability of

  7  applications and shall review applications for

  8  certificate-of-need determinations for health care facilities

  9  and health services in context with the following criteria:

10         (1)(a)  The need for the health care facilities and

11  health services being proposed in relation to the applicable

12  district health plan, except in emergency circumstances that

13  pose a threat to the public health.

14         (2)(b)  The availability, quality of care, efficiency,

15  appropriateness, accessibility, and extent of utilization of,

16  and adequacy of like and existing health care facilities and

17  health services in the service district of the applicant.

18         (3)(c)  The ability of the applicant to provide quality

19  of care and the applicant's record of providing quality of

20  care.

21         (d)  The availability and adequacy of other health care

22  facilities and health services in the service district of the

23  applicant, such as outpatient care and ambulatory or home care

24  services, which may serve as alternatives for the health care

25  facilities and health services to be provided by the

26  applicant.

27         (e)  Probable economies and improvements in service

28  which may be derived from operation of joint, cooperative, or

29  shared health care resources.

30         (4)(f)  The need in the service district of the

31  applicant for special health care equipment and services that

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  1  are not reasonably and economically accessible in adjoining

  2  areas.

  3         (5)(g)  The needs of need for research and educational

  4  facilities, including, but not limited to, facilities with

  5  institutional training programs and community training

  6  programs for health care practitioners and for doctors of

  7  osteopathic medicine and medicine at the student, internship,

  8  and residency training levels.

  9         (6)(h)  The availability of resources, including health

10  personnel, management personnel, and funds for capital and

11  operating expenditures, for project accomplishment and

12  operation.; the effects the project will have on clinical

13  needs of health professional training programs in the service

14  district; the extent to which the services will be accessible

15  to schools for health professions in the service district for

16  training purposes if such services are available in a limited

17  number of facilities; the availability of alternative uses of

18  such resources for the provision of other health services; and

19         (7)  The extent to which the proposed services will

20  enhance access to health care for be accessible to all

21  residents of the service district.

22         (8)(i)  The immediate and long-term financial

23  feasibility of the proposal.

24         (j)  The special needs and circumstances of health

25  maintenance organizations.

26         (k)  The needs and circumstances of those entities that

27  provide a substantial portion of their services or resources,

28  or both, to individuals not residing in the service district

29  in which the entities are located or in adjacent service

30  districts.  Such entities may include medical and other health

31  professions, schools, multidisciplinary clinics, and specialty

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  1  services such as open-heart surgery, radiation therapy, and

  2  renal transplantation.

  3         (9)(l)  The extent to which the proposal will foster

  4  competition that promotes quality and cost-effectiveness. The

  5  probable impact of the proposed project on the costs of

  6  providing health services proposed by the applicant, upon

  7  consideration of factors including, but not limited to, the

  8  effects of competition on the supply of health services being

  9  proposed and the improvements or innovations in the financing

10  and delivery of health services which foster competition and

11  service to promote quality assurance and cost-effectiveness.

12         (10)(m)  The costs and methods of the proposed

13  construction, including the costs and methods of energy

14  provision and the availability of alternative, less costly, or

15  more effective methods of construction.

16         (11)(n)  The applicant's past and proposed provision of

17  health care services to Medicaid patients and the medically

18  indigent.

19         (o)  The applicant's past and proposed provision of

20  services that promote a continuum of care in a multilevel

21  health care system, which may include, but are not limited to,

22  acute care, skilled nursing care, home health care, and

23  assisted living facilities.

24         (12)(p)  The applicant's designation as a Gold Seal

25  Program nursing facility pursuant to s. 400.235, when the

26  applicant is requesting additional nursing home beds at that

27  facility.

28         (2)  In cases of capital expenditure proposals for the

29  provision of new health services to inpatients, the agency

30  shall also reference each of the following in its findings of

31  fact:

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  1         (a)  That less costly, more efficient, or more

  2  appropriate alternatives to such inpatient services are not

  3  available and the development of such alternatives has been

  4  studied and found not practicable.

  5         (b)  That existing inpatient facilities providing

  6  inpatient services similar to those proposed are being used in

  7  an appropriate and efficient manner.

  8         (c)  In the case of new construction or replacement

  9  construction, that alternatives to the construction, for

10  example, modernization or sharing arrangements, have been

11  considered and have been implemented to the maximum extent

12  practicable.

13         (d)  That patients will experience serious problems in

14  obtaining inpatient care of the type proposed, in the absence

15  of the proposed new service.

16         (e)  In the case of a proposal for the addition of beds

17  for the provision of skilled nursing or intermediate care

18  services, that the addition will be consistent with the plans

19  of other agencies of the state responsible for the provision

20  and financing of long-term care, including home health

21  services.

22         Section 7.  Section 408.036, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         408.036  Projects subject to review.--

25         (1)  APPLICABILITY.--Unless exempt under subsection

26  (3), all health-care-related projects, as described in

27  paragraphs (a)-(h)(k), are subject to review and must file an

28  application for a certificate of need with the agency. The

29  agency is exclusively responsible for determining whether a

30  health-care-related project is subject to review under ss.

31  408.031-408.045.

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  1         (a)  The addition of beds by new construction or

  2  alteration.

  3         (b)  The new construction or establishment of

  4  additional health care facilities, including a replacement

  5  health care facility when the proposed project site is not

  6  located on the same site as the existing health care facility.

  7         (c)  The conversion from one type of health care

  8  facility to another, including the conversion from one level

  9  of care to another, in a skilled or intermediate nursing

10  facility, if the conversion effects a change in the level of

11  care of 10 beds or 10 percent of total bed capacity of the

12  skilled or intermediate nursing facility within a 2-year

13  period.  If the nursing facility is certified for both skilled

14  and intermediate nursing care, the provisions of this

15  paragraph do not apply.

16         (d)  An Any increase in the total licensed bed capacity

17  of a health care facility.

18         (e)  Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3)(i), the

19  establishment of a Medicare-certified home health agency, The

20  establishment of a hospice or hospice inpatient facility, or

21  the direct provision of such services by a health care

22  facility or health maintenance organization for those other

23  than the subscribers of the health maintenance organization;

24  except that this paragraph does not apply to the establishment

25  of a Medicare-certified home health agency by a facility

26  described in paragraph (3)(h).

27         (f)  An acquisition by or on behalf of a health care

28  facility or health maintenance organization, by any means,

29  which acquisition would have required review if the

30  acquisition had been by purchase.

31

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  1         (f)(g)  The establishment of inpatient institutional

  2  health services by a health care facility, or a substantial

  3  change in such services.

  4         (h)  The acquisition by any means of an existing health

  5  care facility by any person, unless the person provides the

  6  agency with at least 30 days' written notice of the proposed

  7  acquisition, which notice is to include the services to be

  8  offered and the bed capacity of the facility, and unless the

  9  agency does not determine, within 30 days after receipt of

10  such notice, that the services to be provided and the bed

11  capacity of the facility will be changed.

12         (i)  An increase in the cost of a project for which a

13  certificate of need has been issued when the increase in cost

14  exceeds 20 percent of the originally approved cost of the

15  project, except that a cost overrun review is not necessary

16  when the cost overrun is less than $20,000.

17         (g)(j)  An increase in the number of beds for acute

18  care, specialty burn units, neonatal intensive care units,

19  comprehensive rehabilitation, mental health services, or

20  hospital-based distinct part skilled nursing units, or at a

21  long-term care hospital psychiatric or rehabilitation beds.

22         (h)(k)  The establishment of tertiary health services.

23         (2)  PROJECTS SUBJECT TO EXPEDITED REVIEW.--Unless

24  exempt pursuant to subsection (3), projects subject to an

25  expedited review shall include, but not be limited to:

26         (a)  Cost overruns, as defined in paragraph (1)(i).

27         (a)(b)  Research, education, and training programs.

28         (b)(c)  Shared services contracts or projects.

29         (c)(d)  A transfer of a certificate of need.

30         (d)(e)  A 50-percent increase in nursing home beds for

31  a facility incorporated and operating in this state for at

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  1  least 60 years on or before July 1, 1988, which has a licensed

  2  nursing home facility located on a campus providing a variety

  3  of residential settings and supportive services.  The

  4  increased nursing home beds shall be for the exclusive use of

  5  the campus residents.  Any application on behalf of an

  6  applicant meeting this requirement shall be subject to the

  7  base fee of $5,000 provided in s. 408.038.

  8         (f)  Combination within one nursing home facility of

  9  the beds or services authorized by two or more certificates of

10  need issued in the same planning subdistrict.

11         (g)  Division into two or more nursing home facilities

12  of beds or services authorized by one certificate of need

13  issued in the same planning subdistrict.  Such division shall

14  not be approved if it would adversely affect the original

15  certificate's approved cost.

16         (e)(h)  Replacement of a health care facility when the

17  proposed project site is located in the same district and

18  within a 1-mile radius of the replaced health care facility.

19         (f)  The conversion of mental health services beds

20  licensed under chapter 395 or hospital-based distinct part

21  skilled nursing unit beds to general acute care beds; the

22  conversion of mental health services beds between or among the

23  licensed bed categories defined as beds for mental health

24  services; or the conversion of general acute care beds to beds

25  for mental health services.

26         1.  Conversion under this paragraph shall not establish

27  a new licensed bed category at the hospital but shall apply

28  only to categories of beds licensed at that hospital.

29         2.  Beds converted under this paragraph must be

30  licensed and operational for at least 12 months before the

31

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  1  hospital may apply for additional conversion affecting beds of

  2  the same type.

  3

  4  The agency shall develop rules to implement the provisions for

  5  expedited review, including time schedule, application content

  6  which may be reduced from the full requirements of s.

  7  408.037(1), and application processing.

  8         (3)  EXEMPTIONS.--Upon request, the following projects

  9  are subject to supported by such documentation as the agency

10  requires, the agency shall grant an exemption from the

11  provisions of subsection (1):

12         (a)  For the initiation or expansion of obstetric

13  services.

14         (a)(b)  For replacement of any expenditure to replace

15  or renovate any part of a licensed health care facility on the

16  same site, provided that the number of licensed beds in each

17  licensed bed category will not increase and, in the case of a

18  replacement facility, the project site is the same as the

19  facility being replaced.

20         (c)  For providing respite care services. An individual

21  may be admitted to a respite care program in a hospital

22  without regard to inpatient requirements relating to admitting

23  order and attendance of a member of a medical staff.

24         (b)(d)  For hospice services or home health services

25  provided by a rural hospital, as defined in s. 395.602, or for

26  swing beds in such rural hospital in a number that does not

27  exceed one-half of its licensed beds.

28         (c)(e)  For the conversion of licensed acute care

29  hospital beds to Medicare and Medicaid certified skilled

30  nursing beds in a rural hospital as defined in s. 395.602, so

31  long as the conversion of the beds does not involve the

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  1  construction of new facilities. The total number of skilled

  2  nursing beds, including swing beds, may not exceed one-half of

  3  the total number of licensed beds in the rural hospital as of

  4  July 1, 1993. Certified skilled nursing beds designated under

  5  this paragraph, excluding swing beds, shall be included in the

  6  community nursing home bed inventory.  A rural hospital which

  7  subsequently decertifies any acute care beds exempted under

  8  this paragraph shall notify the agency of the decertification,

  9  and the agency shall adjust the community nursing home bed

10  inventory accordingly.

11         (d)(f)  For the addition of nursing home beds at a

12  skilled nursing facility that is part of a retirement

13  community that provides a variety of residential settings and

14  supportive services and that has been incorporated and

15  operated in this state for at least 65 years on or before July

16  1, 1994. All nursing home beds must not be available to the

17  public but must be for the exclusive use of the community

18  residents.

19         (e)(g)  For an increase in the bed capacity of a

20  nursing facility licensed for at least 50 beds as of January

21  1, 1994, under part II of chapter 400 which is not part of a

22  continuing care facility if, after the increase, the total

23  licensed bed capacity of that facility is not more than 60

24  beds and if the facility has been continuously licensed since

25  1950 and has received a superior rating on each of its two

26  most recent licensure surveys.

27         (h)  For the establishment of a Medicare-certified home

28  health agency by a facility certified under chapter 651; a

29  retirement community, as defined in s. 400.404(2)(g); or a

30  residential facility that serves only retired military

31  personnel, their dependents, and the surviving dependents of

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  1  deceased military personnel. Medicare-reimbursed home health

  2  services provided through such agency shall be offered

  3  exclusively to residents of the facility or retirement

  4  community or to residents of facilities or retirement

  5  communities owned, operated, or managed by the same corporate

  6  entity. Each visit made to deliver Medicare-reimbursable home

  7  health services to a home health patient who, at the time of

  8  service, is not a resident of the facility or retirement

  9  community shall be a deceptive and unfair trade practice and

10  constitutes a violation of ss. 501.201-501.213.

11         (i)  For the establishment of a Medicare-certified home

12  health agency. This paragraph shall take effect 90 days after

13  the adjournment sine die of the next regular session of the

14  Legislature occurring after the legislative session in which

15  the Legislature receives a report from the Director of Health

16  Care Administration certifying that the federal Health Care

17  Financing Administration has implemented a per-episode

18  prospective pay system for Medicare-certified home health

19  agencies.

20         (f)(j)  For an inmate health care facility built by or

21  for the exclusive use of the Department of Corrections as

22  provided in chapter 945. This exemption expires when such

23  facility is converted to other uses.

24         (k)  For an expenditure by or on behalf of a health

25  care facility to provide a health service exclusively on an

26  outpatient basis.

27         (g)(l)  For the termination of an inpatient a health

28  care service, upon 30 days' written notice to the agency.

29         (h)(m)  For the delicensure of beds, upon 30 days'

30  written notice to the agency. A request for exemption An

31  application submitted under this paragraph must identify the

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  1  number, the category of beds classification, and the name of

  2  the facility in which the beds to be delicensed are located.

  3         (i)(n)  For the provision of adult inpatient diagnostic

  4  cardiac catheterization services in a hospital.

  5         1.  In addition to any other documentation otherwise

  6  required by the agency, a request for an exemption submitted

  7  under this paragraph must comply with the following criteria:

  8         a.  The applicant must certify it will not provide

  9  therapeutic cardiac catheterization pursuant to the grant of

10  the exemption.

11         b.  The applicant must certify it will meet and

12  continuously maintain the minimum licensure requirements

13  adopted by the agency governing such programs pursuant to

14  subparagraph 2.

15         c.  The applicant must certify it will provide a

16  minimum of 2 percent of its services to charity and Medicaid

17  patients.

18         2.  The agency shall adopt licensure requirements by

19  rule which govern the operation of adult inpatient diagnostic

20  cardiac catheterization programs established pursuant to the

21  exemption provided in this paragraph. The rules shall ensure

22  that such programs:

23         a.  Perform only adult inpatient diagnostic cardiac

24  catheterization services authorized by the exemption and will

25  not provide therapeutic cardiac catheterization or any other

26  services not authorized by the exemption.

27         b.  Maintain sufficient appropriate equipment and

28  health personnel to ensure quality and safety.

29         c.  Maintain appropriate times of operation and

30  protocols to ensure availability and appropriate referrals in

31  the event of emergencies.

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  1         d.  Maintain appropriate program volumes to ensure

  2  quality and safety.

  3         e.  Provide a minimum of 2 percent of its services to

  4  charity and Medicaid patients each year.

  5         3.a.  The exemption provided by this paragraph shall

  6  not apply unless the agency determines that the program is in

  7  compliance with the requirements of subparagraph 1. and that

  8  the program will, after beginning operation, continuously

  9  comply with the rules adopted pursuant to subparagraph 2.  The

10  agency shall monitor such programs to ensure compliance with

11  the requirements of subparagraph 2.

12         b.(I)  The exemption for a program shall expire

13  immediately when the program fails to comply with the rules

14  adopted pursuant to sub-subparagraphs 2.a., b., and c.

15         (II)  Beginning 18 months after a program first begins

16  treating patients, the exemption for a program shall expire

17  when the program fails to comply with the rules adopted

18  pursuant to sub-subparagraphs 2.d. and e.

19         (III)  If the exemption for a program expires pursuant

20  to sub-sub-subparagraph (I) or sub-sub-subparagraph (II), the

21  agency shall not grant an exemption pursuant to this paragraph

22  for an adult inpatient diagnostic cardiac catheterization

23  program located at the same hospital until 2 years following

24  the date of the determination by the agency that the program

25  failed to comply with the rules adopted pursuant to

26  subparagraph 2.

27         4.  The agency shall not grant any exemption under this

28  paragraph until the adoption of the rules required under this

29  paragraph, or until March 1, 1998, whichever comes first.

30  However, if final rules have not been adopted by March 1,

31  1998, the proposed rules governing the exemptions shall be

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  1  used by the agency to grant exemptions under the provisions of

  2  this paragraph until final rules become effective.

  3         (j)(o)  For any expenditure to provide mobile surgical

  4  facilities and related health care services provided under

  5  contract with the Department of Corrections or a private

  6  correctional facility operating pursuant to chapter 957.

  7         (k)(p)  For state veterans' nursing homes operated by

  8  or on behalf of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs in

  9  accordance with part II of chapter 296 for which at least 50

10  percent of the construction cost is federally funded and for

11  which the Federal Government pays a per diem rate not to

12  exceed one-half of the cost of the veterans' care in such

13  state nursing homes. These beds shall not be included in the

14  nursing home bed inventory.

15         (l)  For combination within one nursing home facility

16  of the beds or services authorized by two or more certificates

17  of need issued in the same planning subdistrict.  An exemption

18  granted under this paragraph shall extend the validity period

19  of the certificates of need to be consolidated by the length

20  of the period beginning upon submission of the exemption

21  request and ending with issuance of the exemption.  The

22  longest validity period among the certificates shall be

23  applicable to each of the combined certificates.

24         (m)  For division into two or more nursing home

25  facilities of beds or services authorized by one certificate

26  of need issued in the same planning subdistrict.  An exemption

27  granted under this paragraph shall extend the validity period

28  of the certificate of need to be divided by the length of the

29  period beginning upon submission of the exemption request and

30  ending with issuance of the exemption.

31

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  1         (n)  For the addition of hospital beds licensed under

  2  chapter 395 for acute care, mental health services, or a

  3  hospital-based distinct part skilled nursing unit in a number

  4  that may not exceed 10 total beds or 10 percent of the

  5  licensed capacity of the bed category being expanded,

  6  whichever is greater. Beds for specialty burn units, neonatal

  7  intensive care units, or comprehensive rehabilitation, or at a

  8  long-term care hospital, may not be increased under this

  9  paragraph.

10         1.  In addition to any other documentation otherwise

11  required by the agency, a request for exemption submitted

12  under this paragraph must:

13         a.  Certify that the prior 12-month average occupancy

14  rate for the category of licensed beds being expanded at the

15  facility meets or exceeds 80 percent or, for a hospital-based

16  distinct part skilled nursing unit, the prior 12-month average

17  occupancy rate meets or exceeds 96 percent.

18         b.  Certify that any beds of the same type authorized

19  for the facility under this paragraph before the date of the

20  current request for an exemption have been licensed and

21  operational for at least 12 months.

22         2.  The timeframes and monitoring process specified in

23  s. 408.040(2)(a)-(c) apply to any exemption issued under this

24  paragraph.

25         3.  The agency shall count beds authorized under this

26  paragraph as approved beds in the published inventory of

27  hospital beds until the beds are licensed.

28         (o)  For the addition of acute care beds, as authorized

29  by rule consistent with s. 395.003(4), in a number that may

30  not exceed 10 total beds or 10 percent of licensed bed

31  capacity, whichever is greater, for temporary beds in a

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  1  hospital which has experienced high seasonal occupancy within

  2  the prior 12-month period or in a hospital that must respond

  3  to emergency or exigent circumstances.

  4         (p)  For the addition of nursing home beds licensed

  5  under chapter 400 in a number not exceeding 10 total beds or

  6  10 percent of the number of beds licensed in the facility

  7  being expanded, whichever is greater.

  8         1.  In addition to any other documentation required by

  9  the agency, a request for exemption submitted under this

10  paragraph must:

11         a.  Certify that the facility has not had any class I

12  or class II deficiencies within the 30 months preceding the

13  request for addition.

14         b.  Certify that the prior 12-month average occupancy

15  rate for the nursing home beds at the facility meets or

16  exceeds 96 percent.

17         c.  Certify that any beds authorized for the facility

18  under this paragraph before the date of the current request

19  for an exemption have been licensed and operational for at

20  least 12 months.

21         2.  The timeframes and monitoring process specified in

22  s. 408.040(2)(a)-(c) apply to any exemption issued under this

23  paragraph.

24         3.  The agency shall count beds authorized under this

25  paragraph as approved beds in the published inventory of

26  nursing home beds until the beds are licensed.

27         (4)  A request for exemption under this subsection (3)

28  may be made at any time and is not subject to the batching

29  requirements of this section. The request shall be supported

30  by such documentation as the agency requires by rule. The

31

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  1  agency shall assess a fee of $250 for each request for

  2  exemption submitted under subsection (3).

  3         Section 8.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

  4  408.037, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         408.037  Application content.--

  6         (1)  An application for a certificate of need must

  7  contain:

  8         (a)  A detailed description of the proposed project and

  9  statement of its purpose and need in relation to the district

10  local health plan and the state health plan.

11         Section 9.  Section 408.038, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         408.038  Fees.--The agency department shall assess fees

14  on certificate-of-need applications.  Such fees shall be for

15  the purpose of funding the functions of the local health

16  councils and the activities of the agency department and shall

17  be allocated as provided in s. 408.033. The fee shall be

18  determined as follows:

19         (1)  A minimum base fee of $5,000.

20         (2)  In addition to the base fee of $5,000, 0.015 of

21  each dollar of proposed expenditure, except that a fee may not

22  exceed $22,000.

23         Section 10.  Subsections (3) and (4), paragraph (c) of

24  subsection (5), and paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (6)

25  of section 408.039, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

26         408.039  Review process.--The review process for

27  certificates of need shall be as follows:

28         (3)  APPLICATION PROCESSING.--

29         (a)  An applicant shall file an application with the

30  agency department, and shall furnish a copy of the application

31  to the local health council and the agency department. Within

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  1  15 days after the applicable application filing deadline

  2  established by agency department rule, the staff of the agency

  3  department shall determine if the application is complete.  If

  4  the application is incomplete, the staff shall request

  5  specific information from the applicant necessary for the

  6  application to be complete; however, the staff may make only

  7  one such request. If the requested information is not filed

  8  with the agency department within 21 days of the receipt of

  9  the staff's request, the application shall be deemed

10  incomplete and deemed withdrawn from consideration.

11         (b)  Upon the request of any applicant or substantially

12  affected person within 14 days after notice that an

13  application has been filed, a public hearing may be held at

14  the agency's department's discretion if the agency department

15  determines that a proposed project involves issues of great

16  local public interest. The public hearing shall allow

17  applicants and other interested parties reasonable time to

18  present their positions and to present rebuttal information. A

19  recorded verbatim record of the hearing shall be maintained.

20  The public hearing shall be held at the local level within 21

21  days after the application is deemed complete.

22         (4)  STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.--

23         (a)  The agency's department's review of and final

24  agency action on applications shall be in accordance with the

25  district health plan, and statutory criteria, and the

26  implementing administrative rules.  In the application review

27  process, the agency department shall give a preference, as

28  defined by rule of the agency department, to an applicant

29  which proposes to develop a nursing home in a nursing home

30  geographically underserved area.

31

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  1         (b)  Within 60 days after all the applications in a

  2  review cycle are determined to be complete, the agency

  3  department shall issue its State Agency Action Report and

  4  Notice of Intent to grant a certificate of need for the

  5  project in its entirety, to grant a certificate of need for

  6  identifiable portions of the project, or to deny a certificate

  7  of need.  The State Agency Action Report shall set forth in

  8  writing its findings of fact and determinations upon which its

  9  decision is based.  If a finding of fact or determination by

10  the agency department is counter to the district health plan

11  of the local health council, the agency department shall

12  provide in writing its reason for its findings, item by item,

13  to the local health council.  If the agency department intends

14  to grant a certificate of need, the State Agency Action Report

15  or the Notice of Intent shall also include any conditions

16  which the agency department intends to attach to the

17  certificate of need. The agency department shall designate by

18  rule a senior staff person, other than the person who issues

19  the final order, to issue State Agency Action Reports and

20  Notices of Intent.

21         (c)  The agency department shall publish its proposed

22  decision set forth in the Notice of Intent in the Florida

23  Administrative Weekly within 14 days after the Notice of

24  Intent is issued.

25         (d)  If no administrative hearing is requested pursuant

26  to subsection (5), the State Agency Action Report and the

27  Notice of Intent shall become the final order of the agency

28  department.  The agency department shall provide a copy of the

29  final order to the appropriate local health council.

30         (5)  ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.--

31

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  1         (c)  In administrative proceedings challenging the

  2  issuance or denial of a certificate of need, only applicants

  3  considered by the agency in the same batching cycle are

  4  entitled to a comparative hearing on their applications.

  5  Existing health care facilities may initiate or intervene in

  6  an administrative hearing upon a showing that an established

  7  program will be substantially affected by the issuance of any

  8  certificate of need, whether reviewed under s. 408.036(1) or

  9  (2), to a competing proposed facility or program within the

10  same district.

11         (6)  JUDICIAL REVIEW.--

12         (a)  A party to an administrative hearing for an

13  application for a certificate of need has the right, within

14  not more than 30 days after the date of the final order, to

15  seek judicial review in the District Court of Appeal pursuant

16  to s. 120.68.  The agency department shall be a party in any

17  such proceeding.

18         (b)  In such judicial review, the court shall affirm

19  the final order of the agency department, unless the decision

20  is arbitrary, capricious, or not in compliance with ss.

21  408.031-408.045.

22         Section 11.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section

23  408.040, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

24         408.040  Conditions and monitoring.--

25         (1)(a)  The agency may issue a certificate of need

26  predicated upon statements of intent expressed by an applicant

27  in the application for a certificate of need. Any conditions

28  imposed on a certificate of need based on such statements of

29  intent shall be stated on the face of the certificate of need.

30         1.  Any certificate of need issued for construction of

31  a new hospital or for the addition of beds to an existing

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  1  hospital shall include a statement of the number of beds

  2  approved by category of service, including rehabilitation or

  3  psychiatric service, for which the agency has adopted by rule

  4  a specialty-bed-need methodology. All beds that are approved,

  5  but are not covered by any specialty-bed-need methodology,

  6  shall be designated as general.

  7         (b)2.  The agency may consider, in addition to the

  8  other criteria specified in s. 408.035, a statement of intent

  9  by the applicant that a specified to designate a percentage of

10  the annual patient days at beds of the facility will be

11  utilized for use by patients eligible for care under Title XIX

12  of the Social Security Act. Any certificate of need issued to

13  a nursing home in reliance upon an applicant's statements that

14  to provide a specified percentage number of annual patient

15  days will be utilized beds for use by residents eligible for

16  care under Title XIX of the Social Security Act must include a

17  statement that such certification is a condition of issuance

18  of the certificate of need. The certificate-of-need program

19  shall notify the Medicaid program office and the Department of

20  Elderly Affairs when it imposes conditions as authorized in

21  this paragraph subparagraph in an area in which a community

22  diversion pilot project is implemented.

23         (c)(b)  A certificateholder may apply to the agency for

24  a modification of conditions imposed under paragraph (a) or

25  paragraph (b). If the holder of a certificate of need

26  demonstrates good cause why the certificate should be

27  modified, the agency shall reissue the certificate of need

28  with such modifications as may be appropriate.  The agency

29  shall by rule define the factors constituting good cause for

30  modification.

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  1         (d)(c)  If the holder of a certificate of need fails to

  2  comply with a condition upon which the issuance of the

  3  certificate was predicated, the agency may assess an

  4  administrative fine against the certificateholder in an amount

  5  not to exceed $1,000 per failure per day.  In assessing the

  6  penalty, the agency shall take into account as mitigation the

  7  relative lack of severity of a particular failure.  Proceeds

  8  of such penalties shall be deposited in the Public Medical

  9  Assistance Trust Fund.

10         (2)(a)  Unless the applicant has commenced

11  construction, if the project provides for construction, unless

12  the applicant has incurred an enforceable capital expenditure

13  commitment for a project, if the project does not provide for

14  construction, or unless subject to paragraph (b), a

15  certificate of need shall terminate 18 months after the date

16  of issuance, except in the case of a multifacility project, as

17  defined in s. 408.032, where the certificate of need shall

18  terminate 2 years after the date of issuance. The agency shall

19  monitor the progress of the holder of the certificate of need

20  in meeting the timetable for project development specified in

21  the application with the assistance of the local health

22  council as specified in s. 408.033(1)(b)5., and may revoke the

23  certificate of need, if the holder of the certificate is not

24  meeting such timetable and is not making a good faith effort,

25  as defined by rule, to meet it.

26         (b)  A certificate of need issued to an applicant

27  holding a provisional certificate of authority under chapter

28  651 shall terminate 1 year after the applicant receives a

29  valid certificate of authority from the Department of

30  Insurance.

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  1         (c)  The certificate-of-need validity period for a

  2  project shall be extended by the agency, to the extent that

  3  the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the agency

  4  that good faith commencement of the project is being delayed

  5  by litigation or by governmental action or inaction with

  6  respect to regulations or permitting precluding commencement

  7  of the project.

  8         (d)  If an application is filed to consolidate two or

  9  more certificates as authorized by s. 408.036(2)(f) or to

10  divide a certificate of need into two or more facilities as

11  authorized by s. 408.036(2)(g), the validity period of the

12  certificate or certificates of need to be consolidated or

13  divided shall be extended for the period beginning upon

14  submission of the application and ending when final agency

15  action and any appeal from such action has been concluded.

16  However, no such suspension shall be effected if the

17  application is withdrawn by the applicant.

18         Section 12.  Section 408.044, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         408.044  Injunction.--Notwithstanding the existence or

21  pursuit of any other remedy, the agency department may

22  maintain an action in the name of the state for injunction or

23  other process against any person to restrain or prevent the

24  pursuit of a project subject to review under ss.

25  408.031-408.045, in the absence of a valid certificate of

26  need.

27         Section 13.  Section 408.045, Florida Statutes, is

28  amended to read:

29         408.045  Certificate of need; competitive sealed

30  proposals.--

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  1         (1)  The application, review, and issuance procedures

  2  for a certificate of need for an intermediate care facility

  3  for the developmentally disabled may be made by the agency

  4  department by competitive sealed proposals.

  5         (2)  The agency department shall make a decision

  6  regarding the issuance of the certificate of need in

  7  accordance with the provisions of s. 287.057(15), rules

  8  adopted by the agency department relating to intermediate care

  9  facilities for the developmentally disabled, and the criteria

10  in s. 408.035, as further defined by rule.

11         (3)  Notification of the decision shall be issued to

12  all applicants not later than 28 calendar days after the date

13  responses to a request for proposal are due.

14         (4)  The procedures provided for under this section are

15  exempt from the batching cycle requirements and the public

16  hearing requirement of s. 408.039.

17         (5)  The agency department may use the competitive

18  sealed proposal procedure for determining a certificate of

19  need for other types of health care facilities and services if

20  the agency department identifies an unmet health care need and

21  when funding in whole or in part for such health care

22  facilities or services is authorized by the Legislature.

23         Section 14.  (1)(a)  There is created a

24  certificate-of-need workgroup staffed by the Agency for Health

25  Care Administration.

26         (b)  Workgroup participants shall be responsible for

27  only the expenses that they generate individually through

28  workgroup participation.  The agency shall be responsible for

29  expenses incidental to the production of any required data or

30  reports.

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  1         (2)  The workgroup shall consist of 30 members, 10

  2  appointed by the Governor, 10 appointed by the President of

  3  the Senate, and 10 appointed by the Speaker of the House of

  4  Representatives. The workgroup chair shall be selected by

  5  majority vote of a quorum present. Sixteen members shall

  6  constitute a quorum. The membership shall include, but not be

  7  limited to, representatives from health care provider

  8  organizations, health care facilities, individual health care

  9  practitioners, local health councils, and consumer

10  organizations, and persons with health care market expertise

11  as private-sector consultants.

12         (3)  Appointment to the workgroup shall be as follows:

13         (a)  The Governor shall appoint one representative each

14  from the hospital industry; nursing home industry; hospice

15  industry; local health councils; a consumer organization; and

16  three health care market consultants, one of whom is a

17  recognized expert on hospital markets, one of whom is a

18  recognized expert on nursing home or long-term-care markets,

19  and one of whom is a recognized expert on hospice markets; one

20  representative from the Medicaid program; and one

21  representative from a health care facility that provides a

22  tertiary service.

23         (b)  The President of the Senate shall appoint a

24  representative of a for-profit hospital, a representative of a

25  not-for-profit hospital, a representative of a public

26  hospital, two representatives of the nursing home industry,

27  two representatives of the hospice industry, a representative

28  of a consumer organization, a representative from the

29  Department of Elderly Affairs involved with the implementation

30  of a long-term-care community diversion program, and a health

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  1  care market consultant with expertise in health care

  2  economics.

  3         (c)  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall

  4  appoint a representative from the Florida Hospital

  5  Association, a representative of the Association of Community

  6  Hospitals and Health Systems of Florida, a representative of

  7  the Florida League of Health Systems, a representative of the

  8  Florida Health Care Association, a representative of the

  9  Florida Association of Homes for the Aging, three

10  representatives of Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, one

11  representative of local health councils, and one

12  representative of a consumer organization.

13         (4)  The workgroup shall study issues pertaining to the

14  certificate-of-need program, including the impact of trends in

15  health care delivery and financing. The workgroup shall study

16  issues relating to implementation of the certificate-of-need

17  program.

18         (5)  The workgroup shall meet at least annually, at the

19  request of the chair. The workgroup shall submit an interim

20  report by December 31, 2001, and a final report by December

21  31, 2002. The workgroup is abolished effective July 1, 2003.

22         Section 15.  Effective upon becoming a law, paragraph

23  (d) of subsection (2) and subsection (6) of section 401.25,

24  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

25         401.25  Licensure as a basic life support or an

26  advanced life support service.--

27         (2)  The department shall issue a license for operation

28  to any applicant who complies with the following requirements:

29         (d)  The applicant has obtained a certificate of public

30  convenience and necessity from each county in which the

31  applicant will operate or, if the applicant will operate in a

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  1  municipality with a population greater than 30,000, from that

  2  municipality. In issuing the certificate of public convenience

  3  and necessity, the governing body of each county shall

  4  consider the recommendations of municipalities within its

  5  jurisdiction, and the governing body of a municipality shall

  6  consider the recommendations of appropriate agencies under its

  7  jurisdiction.

  8         (6)  The governing body of each county, and each

  9  municipality with a population greater than 30,000, may adopt

10  ordinances that provide reasonable standards for certificates

11  of public convenience and necessity for basic or advanced life

12  support services and air ambulance services.  In developing

13  standards for certificates of public convenience and

14  necessity, the governing body of the each county or

15  municipality must consider state guidelines and,

16  recommendations of the local or regional trauma agency created

17  under chapter 395, the governing body of a county must

18  consider and the recommendations of municipalities within its

19  jurisdiction, and the governing body of a municipality must

20  consider the recommendations of appropriate agencies under its

21  jurisdiction.

22         Section 16.  Subsection (7) of section 651.118, Florida

23  Statutes, is amended to read:

24         651.118  Agency for Health Care Administration;

25  certificates of need; sheltered beds; community beds.--

26         (7)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2),

27  at the discretion of the continuing care provider, sheltered

28  nursing home beds may be used for persons who are not

29  residents of the facility and who are not parties to a

30  continuing care contract for a period of up to 5 years after

31  the date of issuance of the initial nursing home license.  A

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  1  provider whose 5-year period has expired or is expiring may

  2  request the Agency for Health Care Administration for an

  3  extension, not to exceed 30 percent of the total sheltered

  4  nursing home beds, if the utilization by residents of the

  5  facility in the sheltered beds will not generate sufficient

  6  income to cover facility expenses, as evidenced by one of the

  7  following:

  8         (a)  The facility has a net loss for the most recent

  9  fiscal year as determined under generally accepted accounting

10  principles, excluding the effects of extraordinary or unusual

11  items, as demonstrated in the most recently audited financial

12  statement; or

13         (b)  The facility would have had a pro forma loss for

14  the most recent fiscal year, excluding the effects of

15  extraordinary or unusual items, if revenues were reduced by

16  the amount of revenues from persons in sheltered beds who were

17  not residents, as reported on by a certified public

18  accountant.

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20  The agency shall be authorized to grant an extension to the

21  provider based on the evidence required in this subsection.

22  The agency may request a facility to use up to 25 percent of

23  the patient days generated by new admissions of nonresidents

24  during the extension period to serve Medicaid recipients for

25  those beds authorized for extended use if there is a

26  demonstrated need in the respective service area and if funds

27  are available. A provider who obtains an extension is

28  prohibited from applying for additional sheltered beds under

29  the provision of subsection (2), unless additional residential

30  units are built or the provider can demonstrate need by

31  facility residents to the Agency for Health Care

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  1  Administration. The 5-year limit does not apply to up to 5

  2  sheltered beds designated for inpatient hospice care as part

  3  of a contractual arrangement with a hospice licensed under

  4  part VI of chapter 400. A facility that uses such beds after

  5  the 5-year period shall report such use to the Agency for

  6  Health Care Administration. For purposes of this subsection,

  7  "resident" means a person who, upon admission to the facility,

  8  initially resides in a part of the facility not licensed under

  9  part II of chapter 400.

10         Section 17.  Subsection (3) of section 400.464, Florida

11  Statutes, is repealed.

12         Section 18.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this

13  act shall take effect July 1, 2000.

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