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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
health care institutions; accreditation; inspections
Purpose
Applies requirements allowing the Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS) to accept an accreditation report in lieu of a compliance inspection to all health care institutions, rather than only certain behavioral health residential facilities (BHRFs).
Background
DHS is required to inspect the premises of health care institutions in Arizona, investigate the character and other qualifications of health care institutions and determine if health care institutions are in substantial compliance with prescribed licensure requirements. DHS is required to accept proof that a health care institution is an accredited health care institution in lieu of any required compliance inspections, if DHS receives the health care institution's accreditation report for a given licensure period. If the health care institution's accreditation report is not valid for the entire licensure period, DHS is permitted to conduct compliance inspections during the licensure period not covered by a valid accreditation report (A.R.S. § 36-424).
Current statute authorizes the Director of DHS to accept accreditation reports in lieu of compliance inspections from BHRFs that provide behavioral health services to children if the BHRF: 1) is accredited by an independent, nonprofit accrediting organization approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and 2) has not been subject to an enforcement action within one year preceding the annual licensing fee date (Laws 2019, Ch. 134).
Health care institutions are every place, institution, building or agency, whether organized for profit or not, that provides facilities with medical services, nursing services, behavioral health services, health screening services, other health-related services, supervisory care services, personal care services or directed care services and includes home health agencies, outdoor behavioral health care programs and hospice service agencies. Community residential settings are not considered to be health care institutions (A.R.S. § 36-401).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Authorizes the Director of DHS to accept an accreditation report in lieu of an inspection of a health care institution, rather than only BHRFs that provide services to children, if specified criteria are met.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 2/20/20 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/27/20 60-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 6, 2020
CRS/kja