Florida Senate - 2019 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. PCS (209464) for CS for SB 1712
Ì337470&Î337470
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/18/2019 .
.
.
.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
The Committee on Appropriations (Harrell) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Effective July 1, 2024, subsections (9), (10),
6 and (11) of section 395.003, Florida Statutes, as amended by
7 this act, are amended to read:
8 395.003 Licensure; denial, suspension, and revocation.—
9 (9) A hospital may not be licensed or relicensed if:
10 (a) The diagnosis-related groups for 65 percent or more of
11 the discharges from the hospital, in the most recent year for
12 which data is available to the Agency for Health Care
13 Administration pursuant to s. 408.061, are for diagnosis, care,
14 and treatment of patients who have:
15 1. Cardiac-related diseases and disorders classified as
16 diagnosis-related groups in major diagnostic category 5;
17 2. Orthopedic-related diseases and disorders classified as
18 diagnosis-related groups in major diagnostic category 8;
19 3. Cancer-related diseases and disorders classified as
20 discharges in which the principal diagnosis is neoplasm or
21 carcinoma or is for an admission for radiotherapy or
22 antineoplastic chemotherapy or immunotherapy; or
23 4. Any combination of the above discharges.
24 (b) The hospital restricts its medical and surgical
25 services to primarily or exclusively cardiac, orthopedic,
26 surgical, or oncology specialties.
27 (c) A hospital classified as an exempt cancer center
28 hospital pursuant to 42 C.F.R. s. 412.23(f) as of December 31,
29 2005, is exempt from the licensure restrictions of this
30 subsection.
31 (10) A hospital licensed as of June 1, 2004, shall be
32 exempt from subsection (8) as long as the hospital maintains the
33 same ownership, facility street address, and range of services
34 that were in existence on June 1, 2004. Any transfer of beds, or
35 other agreements that result in the establishment of a hospital
36 or hospital services within the intent of this section, shall be
37 subject to subsection (8). Unless the hospital is otherwise
38 exempt under subsection (8), the agency shall deny or revoke the
39 license of a hospital that violates any of the criteria set
40 forth in that subsection.
41 (11) The agency may adopt rules implementing the licensure
42 requirements set forth in subsection (8). Within 14 days after
43 rendering its decision on a license application or revocation,
44 the agency shall publish its proposed decision in the Florida
45 Administrative Register. Within 21 days after publication of the
46 agency’s decision, any authorized person may file a request for
47 an administrative hearing. In administrative proceedings
48 challenging the approval, denial, or revocation of a license
49 pursuant to subsection (8), the hearing must be based on the
50 facts and law existing at the time of the agency’s proposed
51 agency action. Existing hospitals may initiate or intervene in
52 an administrative hearing to approve, deny, or revoke licensure
53 under subsection (8) based upon a showing that an established
54 program will be substantially affected by the issuance or
55 renewal of a license to a hospital within the same district or
56 service area.
57 Section 2. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (10) of
58 section 395.0191, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
59 395.0191 Staff membership and clinical privileges.—
60 (10) Nothing herein shall be construed by the agency as
61 requiring an applicant for a certificate of need to establish
62 proof of discrimination in the granting of or denial of hospital
63 staff membership or clinical privileges as a precondition to
64 obtaining such certificate of need under the provisions of s.
65 408.043.
66 Section 3. Effective July 1, 2024, present subsection (12)
67 of section 395.1055, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as
68 subsection (15), paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and paragraph
69 (b) of subsection (9) are amended, and a new subsection (12) and
70 subsections (13) and (14) are added to that section, to read:
71 395.1055 Rules and enforcement.—
72 (1) The agency shall adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1)
73 and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this part, which shall
74 include reasonable and fair minimum standards for ensuring that:
75 (f) All hospitals submit such data as necessary to conduct
76 certificate-of-need reviews required under part I of chapter
77 408. Such data shall include, but shall not be limited to,
78 patient origin data, hospital utilization data, type of service
79 reporting, and facility staffing data. The agency may not
80 collect data that identifies or could disclose the identity of
81 individual patients. The agency shall utilize existing uniform
82 statewide data sources when available and shall minimize
83 reporting costs to hospitals.
84 (9) The agency shall establish a technical advisory panel,
85 pursuant to s. 20.052, to develop procedures and standards for
86 measuring outcomes of pediatric cardiac catheterization programs
87 and pediatric cardiovascular surgery programs.
88 (b) Voting members of the panel shall include: 3 at-large
89 members, including 1 cardiologist who is board certified in
90 caring for adults with congenital heart disease and 2 board
91 certified pediatric cardiologists, neither of whom may be
92 employed by any of the hospitals specified in subparagraphs 1.
93 10. or their affiliates, each of whom is appointed by the
94 Secretary of Health Care Administration, and 10 members, and an
95 alternate for each member, each of whom is a pediatric
96 cardiologist or a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, each
97 appointed by the chief executive officer of the following
98 hospitals:
99 1. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
100 2. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.
101 3. Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood.
102 4. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami.
103 5. St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa.
104 6. University of Florida Health Shands Hospital in
105 Gainesville.
106 7. University of Miami Holtz Children’s Hospital in Miami.
107 8. Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville.
108 9. Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando.
109 10. Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando.
110
111 Appointments made under subparagraphs 1.-10. are contingent upon
112 the hospital’s maintenance of pediatric certificates of need and
113 the hospital’s compliance with this section and rules adopted
114 thereunder, as determined by the Secretary of Health Care
115 Administration. A member appointed under subparagraphs 1.-10.
116 whose hospital fails to maintain such certificates or comply
117 with such standards may serve only as a nonvoting member until
118 the hospital restores such certificates or complies with such
119 standards.
120 (12) Each provider of diagnostic cardiac catheterization
121 services shall comply with rules adopted by the agency which
122 establish licensure standards governing the operation of adult
123 inpatient diagnostic cardiac catheterization programs. The rules
124 must ensure that such programs:
125 (a) Comply with the most recent guidelines of the American
126 College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Guidelines
127 for Cardiac Catheterization and Cardiac Catheterization
128 Laboratories.
129 (b) Perform only adult inpatient diagnostic cardiac
130 catheterization services and will not provide therapeutic
131 cardiac catheterization or any other cardiology services.
132 (c) Maintain sufficient appropriate equipment and health
133 care personnel to ensure quality and safety.
134 (d) Maintain appropriate times of operation and protocols
135 to ensure availability and appropriate referrals in the event of
136 emergencies.
137 (e) Demonstrate a plan to provide services to Medicaid and
138 charity care patients.
139 (13) Each provider of adult cardiovascular services or
140 operator of a burn unit shall comply with rules adopted by the
141 agency which establish licensure standards that govern the
142 provision of adult cardiovascular services or the operation of a
143 burn unit. Such rules shall consider, at a minimum, staffing,
144 equipment, physical plant, operating protocols, the provision of
145 services to Medicaid and charity care patients, accreditation,
146 licensure period and fees, and enforcement of minimum standards.
147 (14) In establishing rules for adult cardiovascular
148 services, the agency shall include provisions that allow for:
149 (a) Establishment of two hospital program licensure levels:
150 a Level I program authorizing the performance of adult
151 percutaneous cardiac intervention without onsite cardiac surgery
152 and a Level II program authorizing the performance of
153 percutaneous cardiac intervention with onsite cardiac surgery.
154 (b)1. For a hospital seeking a Level I program,
155 demonstration that, for the most recent 12-month period as
156 reported to the agency, the hospital has provided a minimum of
157 300 adult inpatient and outpatient diagnostic cardiac
158 catheterizations or, for the most recent 12-month period, has
159 discharged or transferred at least 300 patients with the
160 principal diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and that it has a
161 formalized, written transfer agreement with a hospital that has
162 a Level II program, including written transport protocols to
163 ensure safe and efficient transfer of a patient within 60
164 minutes.
165 2.a. A hospital located more than 100 road miles from the
166 closest Level II adult cardiovascular services program does not
167 need to meet the diagnostic cardiac catheterization volume and
168 ischemic heart disease diagnosis volume requirements in
169 subparagraph 1. if the hospital demonstrates that it has, for
170 the most recent 12-month period as reported to the agency,
171 provided a minimum of 100 adult inpatient and outpatient
172 diagnostic cardiac catheterizations or that, for the most recent
173 12-month period, it has discharged or transferred at least 300
174 patients with the principal diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.
175 b. A hospital located more than 100 road miles from the
176 closest Level II adult cardiovascular services program does not
177 need to meet the 60-minute transfer time protocol requirement in
178 subparagraph 1. if the hospital demonstrates that it has a
179 formalized, written transfer agreement with a hospital that has
180 a Level II program. The agreement must include written transport
181 protocols to ensure the safe and efficient transfer of a
182 patient, taking into consideration the patient’s clinical and
183 physical characteristics, road and weather conditions, and
184 viability of ground and air ambulance service to transfer the
185 patient.
186 3. At a minimum, the rules for adult cardiovascular
187 services must require nursing and technical staff to have
188 demonstrated experience in handling acutely ill patients
189 requiring intervention, based on the staff member’s previous
190 experience in dedicated cardiac interventional laboratories or
191 surgical centers. If a staff member’s previous experience is in
192 a dedicated cardiac interventional laboratory at a hospital that
193 does not have an approved adult open heart surgery program, the
194 staff member’s previous experience qualifies only if, at the
195 time the staff member acquired his or her experience, the
196 dedicated cardiac interventional laboratory:
197 a. Had an annual volume of 500 or more percutaneous cardiac
198 intervention procedures.
199 b. Achieved a demonstrated success rate of 95 percent or
200 greater for percutaneous cardiac intervention procedures.
201 c. Experienced a complication rate of less than 5 percent
202 for percutaneous cardiac intervention procedures.
203 d. Performed diverse cardiac procedures, including, but not
204 limited to, balloon angioplasty and stenting, rotational
205 atherectomy, cutting balloon atheroma remodeling, and procedures
206 relating to left ventricular support capability.
207 (c) For a hospital seeking a Level II program,
208 demonstration that, for the most recent 12-month period as
209 reported to the agency, the hospital has performed a minimum of
210 1,100 adult inpatient and outpatient cardiac catheterizations,
211 of which at least 400 must be therapeutic catheterizations, or,
212 for the most recent 12-month period, has discharged at least 800
213 patients with the principal diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.
214 (d) Compliance with the most recent guidelines of the
215 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association
216 guidelines for staffing, physician training and experience,
217 operating procedures, equipment, physical plant, and patient
218 selection criteria to ensure patient quality and safety.
219 (e) Establishment of appropriate hours of operation and
220 protocols to ensure availability and timely referral in the
221 event of emergencies.
222 (f) Demonstration of a plan to provide services to Medicaid
223 and charity care patients.
224 Section 4. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (5) of
225 section 395.1065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
226 395.1065 Criminal and administrative penalties;
227 moratorium.—
228 (5) The agency shall impose a fine of $500 for each
229 instance of the facility’s failure to provide the information
230 required by rules adopted pursuant to s. 395.1055(1)(g) s.
231 395.1055(1)(h).
232 Section 5. Section 395.6025, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
233 Section 6. Subsections (8) and (13) of section 408.032,
234 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
235 408.032 Definitions relating to Health Facility and
236 Services Development Act.—As used in ss. 408.031-408.045, the
237 term:
238 (8) “Health care facility” means a hospital, long-term care
239 hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice, or intermediate
240 care facility for the developmentally disabled. A facility
241 relying solely on spiritual means through prayer for healing is
242 not included as a health care facility.
243 (13) “Long-term care hospital” means a hospital licensed
244 under chapter 395 which meets the requirements of 42 C.F.R. s.
245 412.23(e) and seeks exclusion from the acute care Medicare
246 prospective payment system for inpatient hospital services.
247 Section 7. Effective July 1, 2024, subsections (8) through
248 (17) of section 408.032, Florida Statutes, as amended by this
249 act, are amended to read:
250 408.032 Definitions relating to Health Facility and
251 Services Development Act.—As used in ss. 408.031-408.045, the
252 term:
253 (8) “Health care facility” means a hospital, skilled
254 nursing facility, hospice, or intermediate care facility for the
255 developmentally disabled. A facility relying solely on spiritual
256 means through prayer for healing is not included as a health
257 care facility.
258 (9) “Health services” means inpatient diagnostic, curative,
259 or comprehensive medical rehabilitative services and includes
260 mental health services. Obstetric services are not health
261 services for purposes of ss. 408.031-408.045.
262 (9)(10) “Hospice” or “hospice program” means a hospice as
263 defined in part IV of chapter 400.
264 (11) “Hospital” means a health care facility licensed under
265 chapter 395.
266 (10)(12) “Intermediate care facility for the
267 developmentally disabled” means a residential facility licensed
268 under part VIII of chapter 400.
269 (13) “Mental health services” means inpatient services
270 provided in a hospital licensed under chapter 395 and listed on
271 the hospital license as psychiatric beds for adults; psychiatric
272 beds for children and adolescents; intensive residential
273 treatment beds for children and adolescents; substance abuse
274 beds for adults; or substance abuse beds for children and
275 adolescents.
276 (11)(14) “Nursing home geographically underserved area”
277 means:
278 (a) A county in which there is no existing or approved
279 nursing home;
280 (b) An area with a radius of at least 20 miles in which
281 there is no existing or approved nursing home; or
282 (c) An area with a radius of at least 20 miles in which all
283 existing nursing homes have maintained at least a 95 percent
284 occupancy rate for the most recent 6 months or a 90 percent
285 occupancy rate for the most recent 12 months.
286 (12)(15) “Skilled nursing facility” means an institution,
287 or a distinct part of an institution, which is primarily engaged
288 in providing, to inpatients, skilled nursing care and related
289 services for patients who require medical or nursing care, or
290 rehabilitation services for the rehabilitation of injured,
291 disabled, or sick persons.
292 (16) “Tertiary health service” means a health service
293 which, due to its high level of intensity, complexity,
294 specialized or limited applicability, and cost, should be
295 limited to, and concentrated in, a limited number of hospitals
296 to ensure the quality, availability, and cost-effectiveness of
297 such service. Examples of such service include, but are not
298 limited to, pediatric cardiac catheterization, pediatric open
299 heart surgery, organ transplantation, neonatal intensive care
300 units, comprehensive rehabilitation, and medical or surgical
301 services which are experimental or developmental in nature to
302 the extent that the provision of such services is not yet
303 contemplated within the commonly accepted course of diagnosis or
304 treatment for the condition addressed by a given service. The
305 agency shall establish by rule a list of all tertiary health
306 services.
307 Section 8. Effective July 1, 2024, paragraph (b) of
308 subsection (1) of section 408.033, Florida Statutes, is amended
309 to read:
310 408.033 Local and state health planning.—
311 (1) LOCAL HEALTH COUNCILS.—
312 (b) Each local health council may:
313 1. Develop a district area health plan that permits each
314 local health council to develop strategies and set priorities
315 for implementation based on its unique local health needs.
316 2. Advise the agency on health care issues and resource
317 allocations.
318 3. Promote public awareness of community health needs,
319 emphasizing health promotion and cost-effective health service
320 selection.
321 4. Collect data and conduct analyses and studies related to
322 health care needs of the district, including the needs of
323 medically indigent persons, and assist the agency and other
324 state agencies in carrying out data collection activities that
325 relate to the functions in this subsection.
326 5. Monitor the onsite construction progress, if any, of
327 certificate-of-need approved projects and report council
328 findings to the agency on forms provided by the agency.
329 6. Advise and assist any regional planning councils within
330 each district that have elected to address health issues in
331 their strategic regional policy plans with the development of
332 the health element of the plans to address the health goals and
333 policies in the State Comprehensive Plan.
334 7. Advise and assist local governments within each district
335 on the development of an optional health plan element of the
336 comprehensive plan provided in chapter 163, to assure
337 compatibility with the health goals and policies in the State
338 Comprehensive Plan and district health plan. To facilitate the
339 implementation of this section, the local health council shall
340 annually provide the local governments in its service area, upon
341 request, with:
342 a. A copy and appropriate updates of the district health
343 plan;
344 b. A report of health facility hospital and nursing home
345 utilization statistics for facilities within the local
346 government jurisdiction; and
347 c. Applicable agency rules and calculated need
348 methodologies for health facilities and services regulated under
349 s. 408.034 for the district served by the local health council.
350 8. Monitor and evaluate the adequacy, appropriateness, and
351 effectiveness, within the district, of local, state, federal,
352 and private funds distributed to meet the needs of the medically
353 indigent and other underserved population groups.
354 9. In conjunction with the Department of Health, plan for
355 services at the local level for persons infected with the human
356 immunodeficiency virus.
357 10. Provide technical assistance to encourage and support
358 activities by providers, purchasers, consumers, and local,
359 regional, and state agencies in meeting the health care goals,
360 objectives, and policies adopted by the local health council.
361 11. Provide the agency with data required by rule for the
362 review of certificate-of-need applications and the projection of
363 need for health services and facilities in the district.
364 Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 408.034, Florida
365 Statutes, is amended to read:
366 408.034 Duties and responsibilities of agency; rules.—
367 (2) In the exercise of its authority to issue licenses to
368 health care facilities and health service providers, as provided
369 under chapters 393 and 395 and parts II, IV, and VIII of chapter
370 400, the agency may not issue a license to any health care
371 facility or health service provider that fails to receive a
372 certificate of need or an exemption for the licensed facility or
373 service, except that the agency may issue a license to a general
374 hospital that has not been issued a certificate of need if that
375 hospital meets the criteria established in s. 395.003(8).
376 Section 10. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (2) of
377 section 408.034, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, and
378 subsection (3) of that section, are amended to read:
379 408.034 Duties and responsibilities of agency; rules.—
380 (2) In the exercise of its authority to issue licenses to
381 health care facilities and health service providers, as provided
382 under chapter chapters 393 and 395 and parts II, IV, and VIII of
383 chapter 400, the agency may not issue a license to any health
384 care facility or health service provider that fails to receive a
385 certificate of need or an exemption for the licensed facility or
386 service, except that the agency may issue a license to a general
387 hospital that has not been issued a certificate of need if that
388 hospital meets the criteria established in s. 395.003(8).
389 (3) The agency shall establish, by rule, uniform need
390 methodologies for health services and health facilities. In
391 developing uniform need methodologies, the agency shall, at a
392 minimum, consider the demographic characteristics of the
393 population, the health status of the population, service use
394 patterns, standards and trends, geographic accessibility, and
395 market economics.
396 Section 11. Section 408.035, Florida Statutes, is amended
397 to read:
398 408.035 Review criteria.—
399 (1) The agency shall determine the reviewability of
400 applications and shall review applications for certificate-of
401 need determinations for health care facilities and health
402 services in context with the following criteria, except for
403 general hospitals as defined in s. 395.002:
404 (1)(a) The need for the health care facilities and health
405 services being proposed.
406 (2)(b) The availability, quality of care, accessibility,
407 and extent of utilization of existing health care facilities and
408 health services in the service district of the applicant.
409 (3)(c) The ability of the applicant to provide quality of
410 care and the applicant’s record of providing quality of care.
411 (4)(d) The availability of resources, including health
412 personnel, management personnel, and funds for capital and
413 operating expenditures, for project accomplishment and
414 operation.
415 (5)(e) The extent to which the proposed services will
416 enhance access to health care for residents of the service
417 district.
418 (6)(f) The immediate and long-term financial feasibility of
419 the proposal.
420 (7)(g) The extent to which the proposal will foster
421 competition that promotes quality and cost-effectiveness.
422 (8)(h) The costs and methods of the proposed construction,
423 including the costs and methods of energy provision and the
424 availability of alternative, less costly, or more effective
425 methods of construction.
426 (9)(i) The applicant’s past and proposed provision of
427 health care services to Medicaid patients and the medically
428 indigent.
429 (10)(j) The applicant’s designation as a Gold Seal Program
430 nursing facility pursuant to s. 400.235, when the applicant is
431 requesting additional nursing home beds at that facility.
432 (2) For a general hospital, the agency shall consider only
433 the criteria specified in paragraph (1)(a), paragraph (1)(b),
434 except for quality of care in paragraph (1)(b), and paragraphs
435 (1)(e), (g), and (i).
436 Section 12. Effective July 1, 2024, section 408.035,
437 Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, is amended to read:
438 408.035 Review criteria.—
439 The agency shall determine the reviewability of
440 applications and shall review applications for certificate-of
441 need determinations for health care facilities and health
442 services in context with the following criteria:
443 (1) The need for the health care facilities and health
444 services being proposed.
445 (2) The availability, quality of care, accessibility, and
446 extent of utilization of existing health care facilities and
447 health services in the service district of the applicant.
448 (3) The ability of the applicant to provide quality of care
449 and the applicant’s record of providing quality of care.
450 (4) The availability of resources, including health
451 personnel, management personnel, and funds for capital and
452 operating expenditures, for project accomplishment and
453 operation.
454 (5) The extent to which the proposed services will enhance
455 access to health care for residents of the service district.
456 (6) The immediate and long-term financial feasibility of
457 the proposal.
458 (7) The extent to which the proposal will foster
459 competition that promotes quality and cost-effectiveness.
460 (8) The costs and methods of the proposed construction,
461 including the costs and methods of energy provision and the
462 availability of alternative, less costly, or more effective
463 methods of construction.
464 (9) The applicant’s past and proposed provision of health
465 care services to Medicaid patients and the medically indigent.
466 (10) The applicant’s designation as a Gold Seal Program
467 nursing facility pursuant to s. 400.235, when the applicant is
468 requesting additional nursing home beds at that facility.
469 Section 13. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
470 section 408.036, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
471 408.036 Projects subject to review; exemptions.—
472 (1) APPLICABILITY.—Unless exempt under subsection (3), all
473 health-care-related projects, as described in paragraphs (a)
474 (f), are subject to review and must file an application for a
475 certificate of need with the agency. The agency is exclusively
476 responsible for determining whether a health-care-related
477 project is subject to review under ss. 408.031-408.045.
478 (b) The new construction or establishment of additional
479 health care facilities, except for the construction of or
480 establishment of a general hospital or including a replacement
481 health care facility when the proposed project site is not
482 located on the same site as or within 1 mile of the existing
483 health care facility, if the number of beds in each licensed bed
484 category will not increase.
485 (c) The conversion from one type of health care facility to
486 another, including the conversion from a general hospital or, a
487 specialty hospital, except that the conversion of a specialty
488 hospital to a general hospital is not subject to review if, once
489 converted, the hospital meets the licensure criteria in s.
490 395.003(8) or a long-term care hospital.
491 Section 14. Effective July 1, 2024, section 408.036,
492 Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, is amended to read:
493 408.036 Projects subject to review; exemptions.—
494 (1) APPLICABILITY.—Unless exempt under subsection (3), all
495 health-care-related projects, as described in this subsection
496 paragraphs (a)-(f), are subject to review and must file an
497 application for a certificate of need with the agency. The
498 agency is exclusively responsible for determining whether a
499 health-care-related project is subject to review under ss.
500 408.031-408.045.
501 (a) The addition of beds in community nursing homes or
502 intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled by
503 new construction or alteration.
504 (b) The new construction or establishment of additional
505 health care facilities, except for the construction of or
506 establishment of a general hospital or a replacement health care
507 facility when the proposed project site is located on the same
508 site as or within 1 mile of the existing health care facility if
509 the number of beds in each licensed bed category will not
510 increase.
511 (c) The conversion from one type of health care facility to
512 another, including the conversion from a general hospital or a
513 specialty hospital except that the conversion of a specialty
514 hospital to a general hospital is not subject to review if, once
515 converted, the hospital meets the licensure criteria in s.
516 395.003(8).
517 (d) The establishment of a hospice or hospice inpatient
518 facility, except as provided in s. 408.043.
519 (e) An increase in the number of beds for comprehensive
520 rehabilitation.
521 (f) The establishment of tertiary health services,
522 including inpatient comprehensive rehabilitation services.
523 (2) PROJECTS SUBJECT TO EXPEDITED REVIEW.—Unless exempt
524 pursuant to subsection (3), the following projects are subject
525 to expedited review:
526 (a) Transfer of a certificate of need, except that when an
527 existing hospital is acquired by a purchaser, all certificates
528 of need issued to the hospital which are not yet operational
529 shall be acquired by the purchaser without need for a transfer.
530 (b) Replacement of a nursing home, if the proposed project
531 site is within a 30-mile radius of the replaced nursing home. If
532 the proposed project site is outside the subdistrict where the
533 replaced nursing home is located, the prior 6-month occupancy
534 rate for licensed community nursing homes in the proposed
535 subdistrict must be at least 85 percent in accordance with the
536 agency’s most recently published inventory.
537 (c) Replacement of a nursing home within the same district,
538 if the proposed project site is outside a 30-mile radius of the
539 replaced nursing home but within the same subdistrict or a
540 geographically contiguous subdistrict. If the proposed project
541 site is in the geographically contiguous subdistrict, the prior
542 6-month occupancy rate for licensed community nursing homes for
543 that subdistrict must be at least 85 percent in accordance with
544 the agency’s most recently published inventory.
545 (d) Relocation of a portion of a nursing home’s licensed
546 beds to another facility or to establish a new facility within
547 the same district or within a geographically contiguous
548 district, if the relocation is within a 30-mile radius of the
549 existing facility and the total number of nursing home beds in
550 the state does not increase.
551 (e) New construction of a community nursing home in a
552 retirement community as further provided in this paragraph.
553 1. Expedited review under this paragraph is available if
554 all of the following criteria are met:
555 a. The residential use area of the retirement community is
556 deed-restricted as housing for older persons as defined in s.
557 760.29(4)(b).
558 b. The retirement community is located in a county in which
559 25 percent or more of its population is age 65 and older.
560 c. The retirement community is located in a county that has
561 a rate of no more than 16.1 beds per 1,000 persons age 65 years
562 or older. The rate shall be determined by using the current
563 number of licensed and approved community nursing home beds in
564 the county per the agency’s most recent published inventory.
565 d. The retirement community has a population of at least
566 8,000 residents within the county, based on a population data
567 source accepted by the agency.
568 e. The number of proposed community nursing home beds in an
569 application does not exceed the projected bed need after
570 applying the rate of 16.1 beds per 1,000 persons aged 65 years
571 and older projected for the county 3 years into the future using
572 the estimates adopted by the agency reduced by the agency’s most
573 recently published inventory of licensed and approved community
574 nursing home beds in the county.
575 2. No more than 120 community nursing home beds shall be
576 approved for a qualified retirement community under each request
577 for expedited review. Subsequent requests for expedited review
578 under this process may not be made until 2 years after
579 construction of the facility has commenced or 1 year after the
580 beds approved through the initial request are licensed,
581 whichever occurs first.
582 3. The total number of community nursing home beds which
583 may be approved for any single deed-restricted community
584 pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed 240, regardless of
585 whether the retirement community is located in more than one
586 qualifying county.
587 4. Each nursing home facility approved under this paragraph
588 must be dually certified for participation in the Medicare and
589 Medicaid programs.
590 5. Each nursing home facility approved under this paragraph
591 must be at least 1 mile, as measured over publicly owned
592 roadways, from an existing approved and licensed community
593 nursing home.
594 6. A retirement community requesting expedited review under
595 this paragraph shall submit a written request to the agency for
596 expedited review. The request must include the number of beds to
597 be added and provide evidence of compliance with the criteria
598 specified in subparagraph 1.
599 7. After verifying that the retirement community meets the
600 criteria for expedited review specified in subparagraph 1., the
601 agency shall publicly notice in the Florida Administrative
602 Register that a request for an expedited review has been
603 submitted by a qualifying retirement community and that the
604 qualifying retirement community intends to make land available
605 for the construction and operation of a community nursing home.
606 The agency’s notice must identify where potential applicants can
607 obtain information describing the sales price of, or terms of
608 the land lease for, the property on which the project will be
609 located and the requirements established by the retirement
610 community. The agency notice must also specify the deadline for
611 submission of the certificate-of-need application, which may not
612 be earlier than the 91st day or later than the 125th day after
613 the date the notice appears in the Florida Administrative
614 Register.
615 8. The qualified retirement community shall make land
616 available to applicants it deems to have met its requirements
617 for the construction and operation of a community nursing home
618 but may sell or lease the land only to the applicant that is
619 issued a certificate of need by the agency under this paragraph.
620 a. A certificate-of-need application submitted under this
621 paragraph must identify the intended site for the project within
622 the retirement community and the anticipated costs for the
623 project based on that site. The application must also include
624 written evidence that the retirement community has determined
625 that both the provider submitting the application and the
626 project satisfy its requirements for the project.
627 b. If the retirement community determines that more than
628 one provider satisfies its requirements for the project, it may
629 notify the agency of the provider it prefers.
630 9. The agency shall review each submitted application. If
631 multiple applications are submitted for a project published
632 pursuant to subparagraph 7., the agency shall review the
633 competing applications.
634
635 The agency shall develop rules to implement the expedited review
636 process, including time schedule, application content that may
637 be reduced from the full requirements of s. 408.037(1), and
638 application processing.
639 (3) EXEMPTIONS.—Upon request, the following projects are
640 subject to exemption from the provisions of subsection (1):
641 (a) For hospice services or for swing beds in a rural
642 hospital, as defined in s. 395.602, in a number that does not
643 exceed one-half of its licensed beds, or for a hospice program
644 established by an entity that shares a controlling interest, as
645 defined in s. 408.803, with a not-for-profit retirement
646 community that offers independent living, assisted living, and
647 skilled nursing services provided in a facility on the same
648 premises and designated by the agency as a teaching nursing home
649 for a minimum of 5 years, in accordance with s. 430.80. Only one
650 hospice program per teaching nursing home may be established
651 under the exemption in this paragraph, and such program shall be
652 limited to serving patients residing in communities located
653 within the not-for-profit retirement community, including home
654 and community-based service providers.
655 (b) For the conversion of licensed acute care hospital beds
656 to Medicare and Medicaid certified skilled nursing beds in a
657 rural hospital, as defined in s. 395.602, so long as the
658 conversion of the beds does not involve the construction of new
659 facilities. The total number of skilled nursing beds, including
660 swing beds, may not exceed one-half of the total number of
661 licensed beds in the rural hospital as of July 1, 1993.
662 Certified skilled nursing beds designated under this paragraph,
663 excluding swing beds, shall be included in the community nursing
664 home bed inventory. A rural hospital that subsequently
665 decertifies any acute care beds exempted under this paragraph
666 shall notify the agency of the decertification, and the agency
667 shall adjust the community nursing home bed inventory
668 accordingly.
669 (b)(c) For the addition of nursing home beds at a skilled
670 nursing facility that is part of a retirement community that
671 provides a variety of residential settings and supportive
672 services and that has been incorporated and operated in this
673 state for at least 65 years on or before July 1, 1994. All
674 nursing home beds must not be available to the public but must
675 be for the exclusive use of the community residents.
676 (c)(d) For an inmate health care facility built by or for
677 the exclusive use of the Department of Corrections as provided
678 in chapter 945. This exemption expires when such facility is
679 converted to other uses.
680 (d)(e) For the addition of nursing home beds licensed under
681 chapter 400 in a number not exceeding 30 total beds or 25
682 percent of the number of beds licensed in the facility being
683 replaced under paragraph (2)(b), paragraph (2)(c), or paragraph
684 (i) (m), whichever is less.
685 (e)(f) For state veterans’ nursing homes operated by or on
686 behalf of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs in
687 accordance with part II of chapter 296 for which at least 50
688 percent of the construction cost is federally funded and for
689 which the Federal Government pays a per diem rate not to exceed
690 one-half of the cost of the veterans’ care in such state nursing
691 homes. These beds shall not be included in the nursing home bed
692 inventory.
693 (f)(g) For combination within one nursing home facility of
694 the beds or services authorized by two or more certificates of
695 need issued in the same planning subdistrict. An exemption
696 granted under this paragraph shall extend the validity period of
697 the certificates of need to be consolidated by the length of the
698 period beginning upon submission of the exemption request and
699 ending with issuance of the exemption. The longest validity
700 period among the certificates shall be applicable to each of the
701 combined certificates.
702 (g)(h) For division into two or more nursing home
703 facilities of beds or services authorized by one certificate of
704 need issued in the same planning subdistrict. An exemption
705 granted under this paragraph shall extend the validity period of
706 the certificate of need to be divided by the length of the
707 period beginning upon submission of the exemption request and
708 ending with issuance of the exemption.
709 (i) For the addition of hospital beds licensed under
710 chapter 395 for comprehensive rehabilitation in a number that
711 may not exceed 10 total beds or 10 percent of the licensed
712 capacity, whichever is greater.
713 1. In addition to any other documentation otherwise
714 required by the agency, a request for exemption submitted under
715 this paragraph must:
716 a. Certify that the prior 12-month average occupancy rate
717 for the licensed beds being expanded meets or exceeds 80
718 percent.
719 b. Certify that the beds have been licensed and operational
720 for at least 12 months.
721 2. The timeframes and monitoring process specified in s.
722 408.040(2)(a)-(c) apply to any exemption issued under this
723 paragraph.
724 3. The agency shall count beds authorized under this
725 paragraph as approved beds in the published inventory of
726 hospital beds until the beds are licensed.
727 (h)(j) For the addition of nursing home beds licensed under
728 chapter 400 in a number not exceeding 10 total beds or 10
729 percent of the number of beds licensed in the facility being
730 expanded, whichever is greater; or, for the addition of nursing
731 home beds licensed under chapter 400 at a facility that has been
732 designated as a Gold Seal nursing home under s. 400.235 in a
733 number not exceeding 20 total beds or 10 percent of the number
734 of licensed beds in the facility being expanded, whichever is
735 greater.
736 1. In addition to any other documentation required by the
737 agency, a request for exemption submitted under this paragraph
738 must certify that:
739 a. The facility has not had any class I or class II
740 deficiencies within the 30 months preceding the request.
741 b. The prior 12-month average occupancy rate for the
742 nursing home beds at the facility meets or exceeds 94 percent.
743 c. Any beds authorized for the facility under this
744 paragraph before the date of the current request for an
745 exemption have been licensed and operational for at least 12
746 months.
747 2. The timeframes and monitoring process specified in s.
748 408.040(2)(a)-(c) apply to any exemption issued under this
749 paragraph.
750 3. The agency shall count beds authorized under this
751 paragraph as approved beds in the published inventory of nursing
752 home beds until the beds are licensed.
753 (k) For the establishment of:
754 1. A Level II neonatal intensive care unit with at least 10
755 beds, upon documentation to the agency that the applicant
756 hospital had a minimum of 1,500 births during the previous 12
757 months;
758 2. A Level III neonatal intensive care unit with at least
759 15 beds, upon documentation to the agency that the applicant
760 hospital has a Level II neonatal intensive care unit of at least
761 10 beds and had a minimum of 3,500 births during the previous 12
762 months; or
763 3. A Level III neonatal intensive care unit with at least 5
764 beds, upon documentation to the agency that the applicant
765 hospital is a verified trauma center pursuant to s.
766 395.4001(15), and has a Level II neonatal intensive care unit,
767
768 if the applicant demonstrates that it meets the requirements for
769 quality of care, nurse staffing, physician staffing, physical
770 plant, equipment, emergency transportation, and data reporting
771 found in agency certificate-of-need rules for Level II and Level
772 III neonatal intensive care units and if the applicant commits
773 to the provision of services to Medicaid and charity patients at
774 a level equal to or greater than the district average. Such a
775 commitment is subject to s. 408.040.
776 (l) For the addition of mental health services or beds if
777 the applicant commits to providing services to Medicaid or
778 charity care patients at a level equal to or greater than the
779 district average. Such a commitment is subject to s. 408.040.
780 (i)(m) For replacement of a licensed nursing home on the
781 same site, or within 5 miles of the same site if within the same
782 subdistrict, if the number of licensed beds does not increase
783 except as permitted under paragraph (d) (e).
784 (j)(n) For consolidation or combination of licensed nursing
785 homes or transfer of beds between licensed nursing homes within
786 the same planning district, by nursing homes with any shared
787 controlled interest within that planning district, if there is
788 no increase in the planning district total number of nursing
789 home beds and the site of the relocation is not more than 30
790 miles from the original location.
791 (k)(o) For beds in state mental health treatment facilities
792 defined in s. 394.455 and state mental health forensic
793 facilities operated under chapter 916.
794 (l)(p) For beds in state developmental disabilities centers
795 as defined in s. 393.063.
796 (m)(q) For the establishment of a health care facility or
797 project that meets all of the following criteria:
798 1. The applicant was previously licensed within the past 21
799 days as a health care facility or provider that is subject to
800 subsection (1).
801 2. The applicant failed to submit a renewal application and
802 the license expired on or after January 1, 2015.
803 3. The applicant does not have a license denial or
804 revocation action pending with the agency at the time of the
805 request.
806 4. The applicant’s request is for the same service type,
807 district, service area, and site for which the applicant was
808 previously licensed.
809 5. The applicant’s request, if applicable, includes the
810 same number and type of beds as were previously licensed.
811 6. The applicant agrees to the same conditions that were
812 previously imposed on the certificate of need or on an exemption
813 related to the applicant’s previously licensed health care
814 facility or project.
815 7. The applicant applies for initial licensure as required
816 under s. 408.806 within 21 days after the agency approves the
817 exemption request. If the applicant fails to apply in a timely
818 manner, the exemption expires on the 22nd day following the
819 agency’s approval of the exemption.
820
821 Notwithstanding subparagraph 1., an applicant whose license
822 expired between January 1, 2015, and the effective date of this
823 act may apply for an exemption within 30 days of this act
824 becoming law.
825 (4) REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION.—A request for exemption under
826 subsection (3) may be made at any time and is not subject to the
827 batching requirements of this section. The request shall be
828 supported by such documentation as the agency requires by rule.
829 The agency shall assess a fee of $250 for each request for
830 exemption submitted under subsection (3).
831 (5) NOTIFICATION.—Health care facilities and providers must
832 provide to the agency notification of:
833 (a) replacement of a health care facility when the proposed
834 project site is located in the same district and on the existing
835 site or within a 1-mile radius of the replaced health care
836 facility, if the number and type of beds do not increase.
837 (b) The termination of a health care service, upon 30 days’
838 written notice to the agency.
839 (c) The addition or delicensure of beds. Notification under
840 this subsection may be made by electronic, facsimile, or written
841 means at any time before the described action has been taken.
842 Section 15. Effective July 1, 2024, section 408.0361,
843 Florida Statutes, is repealed.
844 Section 16. Section 408.037, Florida Statutes, is amended
845 to read:
846 408.037 Application content.—
847 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) for a general
848 hospital, An application for a certificate of need must contain:
849 (a) A detailed description of the proposed project and
850 statement of its purpose and need in relation to the district
851 health plan.
852 (b) A statement of the financial resources needed by and
853 available to the applicant to accomplish the proposed project.
854 This statement must include:
855 1. A complete listing of all capital projects, including
856 new health facility development projects and health facility
857 acquisitions applied for, pending, approved, or underway in any
858 state at the time of application, regardless of whether or not
859 that state has a certificate-of-need program or a capital
860 expenditure review program pursuant to s. 1122 of the Social
861 Security Act. The agency may, by rule, require less-detailed
862 information from major health care providers. This listing must
863 include the applicant’s actual or proposed financial commitment
864 to those projects and an assessment of their impact on the
865 applicant’s ability to provide the proposed project.
866 2. A detailed listing of the needed capital expenditures,
867 including sources of funds.
868 3. A detailed financial projection, including a statement
869 of the projected revenue and expenses for the first 2 years of
870 operation after completion of the proposed project. This
871 statement must include a detailed evaluation of the impact of
872 the proposed project on the cost of other services provided by
873 the applicant.
874 (c) An audited financial statement of the applicant or the
875 applicant’s parent corporation if audited financial statements
876 of the applicant do not exist. In an application submitted by an
877 existing health care facility, health maintenance organization,
878 or hospice, financial condition documentation must include, but
879 need not be limited to, a balance sheet and a profit-and-loss
880 statement of the 2 previous fiscal years’ operation.
881 (2) An application for a certificate of need for a general
882 hospital must contain a detailed description of the proposed
883 general hospital project and a statement of its purpose and the
884 needs it will meet. The proposed project’s location, as well as
885 its primary and secondary service areas, must be identified by
886 zip code. Primary service area is defined as the zip codes from
887 which the applicant projects that it will draw 75 percent of its
888 discharges. Secondary service area is defined as the zip codes
889 from which the applicant projects that it will draw its
890 remaining discharges. If, subsequent to issuance of a final
891 order approving the certificate of need, the proposed location
892 of the general hospital changes or the primary service area
893 materially changes, the agency shall revoke the certificate of
894 need. However, if the agency determines that such changes are
895 deemed to enhance access to hospital services in the service
896 district, the agency may permit such changes to occur. A party
897 participating in the administrative hearing regarding the
898 issuance of the certificate of need for a general hospital has
899 standing to participate in any subsequent proceeding regarding
900 the revocation of the certificate of need for a hospital for
901 which the location has changed or for which the primary service
902 area has materially changed. In addition, the application for
903 the certificate of need for a general hospital must include a
904 statement of intent that, if approved by final order of the
905 agency, the applicant shall within 120 days after issuance of
906 the final order or, if there is an appeal of the final order,
907 within 120 days after the issuance of the court’s mandate on
908 appeal, furnish satisfactory proof of the applicant’s financial
909 ability to operate. The agency shall establish documentation
910 requirements, to be completed by each applicant, which show
911 anticipated provider revenues and expenditures, the basis for
912 financing the anticipated cash-flow requirements of the
913 provider, and an applicant’s access to contingency financing. A
914 party participating in the administrative hearing regarding the
915 issuance of the certificate of need for a general hospital may
916 provide written comments concerning the adequacy of the
917 financial information provided, but such party does not have
918 standing to participate in an administrative proceeding
919 regarding proof of the applicant’s financial ability to operate.
920 The agency may require a licensee to provide proof of financial
921 ability to operate at any time if there is evidence of financial
922 instability, including, but not limited to, unpaid expenses
923 necessary for the basic operations of the provider.
924 (2)(3) The applicant must certify that it will license and
925 operate the health care facility. For an existing health care
926 facility, the applicant must be the licenseholder of the
927 facility.
928 Section 17. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (3),
929 paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (5), and paragraph (d) of
930 subsection (6) of section 408.039, Florida Statutes, are amended
931 to read:
932 408.039 Review process.—The review process for certificates
933 of need shall be as follows:
934 (3) APPLICATION PROCESSING.—
935 (c) Except for competing applicants, in order to be
936 eligible to challenge the agency decision on a general hospital
937 application under review pursuant to paragraph (5)(c), existing
938 hospitals must submit a detailed written statement of opposition
939 to the agency and to the applicant. The detailed written
940 statement must be received by the agency and the applicant
941 within 21 days after the general hospital application is deemed
942 complete and made available to the public.
943 (d) In those cases where a written statement of opposition
944 has been timely filed regarding a certificate of need
945 application for a general hospital, the applicant for the
946 general hospital may submit a written response to the agency.
947 Such response must be received by the agency within 10 days of
948 the written statement due date.
949 (5) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.—
950 (b) Hearings shall be held in Tallahassee unless the
951 administrative law judge determines that changing the location
952 will facilitate the proceedings. The agency shall assign
953 proceedings requiring hearings to the Division of Administrative
954 Hearings of the Department of Management Services within 10 days
955 after the time has expired for requesting a hearing. Except upon
956 unanimous consent of the parties or upon the granting by the
957 administrative law judge of a motion of continuance, hearings
958 shall commence within 60 days after the administrative law judge
959 has been assigned. For an application for a general hospital,
960 administrative hearings shall commence within 6 months after the
961 administrative law judge has been assigned, and a continuance
962 may not be granted absent a finding of extraordinary
963 circumstances by the administrative law judge. All parties,
964 except the agency, shall bear their own expense of preparing a
965 transcript. In any application for a certificate of need which
966 is referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings for
967 hearing, the administrative law judge shall complete and submit
968 to the parties a recommended order as provided in ss. 120.569
969 and 120.57. The recommended order shall be issued within 30 days
970 after the receipt of the proposed recommended orders or the
971 deadline for submission of such proposed recommended orders,
972 whichever is earlier. The division shall adopt procedures for
973 administrative hearings which shall maximize the use of
974 stipulated facts and shall provide for the admission of prepared
975 testimony.
976 (c) In administrative proceedings challenging the issuance
977 or denial of a certificate of need, only applicants considered
978 by the agency in the same batching cycle are entitled to a
979 comparative hearing on their applications. Existing health care
980 facilities may initiate or intervene in an administrative
981 hearing upon a showing that an established program will be
982 substantially affected by the issuance of any certificate of
983 need, whether reviewed under s. 408.036(1) or (2), to a
984 competing proposed facility or program within the same district.
985 With respect to an application for a general hospital, competing
986 applicants and only those existing hospitals that submitted a
987 detailed written statement of opposition to an application as
988 provided in this paragraph may initiate or intervene in an
989 administrative hearing. Such challenges to a general hospital
990 application shall be limited in scope to the issues raised in
991 the detailed written statement of opposition that was provided
992 to the agency. The administrative law judge may, upon a motion
993 showing good cause, expand the scope of the issues to be heard
994 at the hearing. Such motion shall include substantial and
995 detailed facts and reasons for failure to include such issues in
996 the original written statement of opposition.
997 (6) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—
998 (d) The party appealing a final order that grants a general
999 hospital certificate of need shall pay the appellee’s attorney’s
1000 fees and costs, in an amount up to $1 million, from the
1001 beginning of the original administrative action if the appealing
1002 party loses the appeal, subject to the following limitations and
1003 requirements:
1004 1. The party appealing a final order must post a bond in
1005 the amount of $1 million in order to maintain the appeal.
1006 2. Except as provided under s. 120.595(5), in no event
1007 shall the agency be held liable for any other party’s attorney’s
1008 fees or costs.
1009 Section 18. Subsection (1) of section 408.043, Florida
1010 Statutes, is amended to read:
1011 408.043 Special provisions.—
1012 (1) OSTEOPATHIC ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS.—When an application
1013 is made for a certificate of need to construct or to expand an
1014 osteopathic acute care hospital, the need for such hospital
1015 shall be determined on the basis of the need for and
1016 availability of osteopathic services and osteopathic acute care
1017 hospitals in the district. When a prior certificate of need to
1018 establish an osteopathic acute care hospital has been issued in
1019 a district, and the facility is no longer used for that purpose,
1020 the agency may continue to count such facility and beds as an
1021 existing osteopathic facility in any subsequent application for
1022 construction of an osteopathic acute care hospital.
1023 Section 19. Subsection (3) of section 408.808, Florida
1024 Statutes, is amended to read:
1025 408.808 License categories.—
1026 (3) INACTIVE LICENSE.—An inactive license may be issued to
1027 a hospital or a health care provider subject to the certificate
1028 of-need provisions in part I of this chapter when the provider
1029 is currently licensed, does not have a provisional license, and
1030 will be temporarily unable to provide services but is reasonably
1031 expected to resume services within 12 months. Such designation
1032 may be made for a period not to exceed 12 months but may be
1033 renewed by the agency for up to 12 additional months upon
1034 demonstration by the licensee of the provider’s progress toward
1035 reopening. However, if after 20 months in an inactive license
1036 status, a statutory rural hospital, as defined in s. 395.602,
1037 has demonstrated progress toward reopening, but may not be able
1038 to reopen prior to the inactive license expiration date, the
1039 inactive designation may be renewed again by the agency for up
1040 to 12 additional months. For purposes of such a second renewal,
1041 if construction or renovation is required, the licensee must
1042 have had plans approved by the agency and construction must have
1043 already commenced pursuant to s. 408.032(4); however, if
1044 construction or renovation is not required, the licensee must
1045 provide proof of having made an enforceable capital expenditure
1046 greater than 25 percent of the total costs associated with the
1047 hiring of staff and the purchase of equipment and supplies
1048 needed to operate the facility upon opening. A request by a
1049 licensee for an inactive license or to extend the previously
1050 approved inactive period must be submitted to the agency and
1051 must include a written justification for the inactive license
1052 with the beginning and ending dates of inactivity specified, a
1053 plan for the transfer of any clients to other providers, and the
1054 appropriate licensure fees. The agency may not accept a request
1055 that is submitted after initiating closure, after any suspension
1056 of service, or after notifying clients of closure or suspension
1057 of service, unless the action is a result of a disaster at the
1058 licensed premises. For the purposes of this section, the term
1059 “disaster” means a sudden emergency occurrence beyond the
1060 control of the licensee, whether natural, technological, or
1061 manmade, which renders the provider inoperable at the premises.
1062 Upon agency approval, the provider shall notify clients of any
1063 necessary discharge or transfer as required by authorizing
1064 statutes or applicable rules. The beginning of the inactive
1065 license period is the date the provider ceases operations. The
1066 end of the inactive license period shall become the license
1067 expiration date. All licensure fees must be current, must be
1068 paid in full, and may be prorated. Reactivation of an inactive
1069 license requires the approval of a renewal application,
1070 including payment of licensure fees and agency inspections
1071 indicating compliance with all requirements of this part,
1072 authorizing statutes, and applicable rules.
1073 Section 20. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
1074 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.
1075
1076 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
1077 And the title is amended as follows:
1078 Delete everything before the enacting clause
1079 and insert:
1080 A bill to be entitled
1081 An act relating to hospital licensure; amending s.
1082 395.003, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to the
1083 licensure of certain hospitals; amending s. 395.0191,
1084 F.S.; deleting provisions relating to certificate of
1085 need applications; amending s. 395.1055, F.S.;
1086 revising the agency’s rulemaking authority with
1087 respect to minimum standards for hospitals; requiring
1088 hospitals that provide certain services to meet
1089 specified licensure requirements; conforming
1090 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
1091 395.1065, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
1092 repealing s. 395.6025, F.S., relating to rural
1093 hospital replacement facilities; amending s. 408.032,
1094 F.S.; revising and deleting definitions; amending s.
1095 408.033, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
1096 by the act; amending s. 408.034; authorizing the
1097 agency to issue a license to a general hospital that
1098 has not been issued a certificate of need under
1099 certain circumstances; revising duties and
1100 responsibilities of the agency relating to issuance of
1101 licenses to health care facilities and health service
1102 providers; conforming provisions to changes made by
1103 the act; amending s. 408.035, F.S.; deleting
1104 provisions related to the agency’s consideration and
1105 review of applications for certificates of need for
1106 general hospitals and health services; amending s.
1107 408.036, F.S.; providing an exception from certificate
1108 of need review requirements for the construction or
1109 establishment of a general hospital and the conversion
1110 of a specialty hospital to a general hospital;
1111 revising health-care-related projects subject to
1112 agency review for a certificate of need and exemptions
1113 therefrom; deleting provisions requiring health care
1114 facilities and providers to provide certain notice to
1115 the agency upon termination of a health care service
1116 or the addition or delicensure of beds; conforming a
1117 provision to changes made by the act; repealing s.
1118 408.0361, F.S., relating to cardiovascular services
1119 and burn unit licensure; amending ss. 408.037 and
1120 408.039, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to
1121 certificate of need applications for general
1122 hospitals; amending s. 408.043, F.S.; deleting
1123 provisions relating to certificates of need for
1124 osteopathic acute care hospitals; amending s. 408.808,
1125 F.S.; authorizing the agency to issue an inactive
1126 license to a certain hospital under certain
1127 circumstances; providing effective dates.