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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session |
House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 44-14-2-0
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HB 2346: outpatient treatment centers; exemption
Sponsor: Representative Shah, LD 5
Senate Engrossed
Overview
Specifies that for an outpatient treatment center (OTC) to be exempt from licensure, supervision, regulation or control of the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) it must have the same direct or indirect owner as a licensed hospital, be staffed by licensed health care providers and provide notice to DHS of its decision to be exempt.
History
An exempt OTC is a facility with the same governing authority as a licensed hospital, that does not have inpatient beds, provides health services or behavioral health services for the diagnosis and treatment of patients and that is exempt from licensure if certain criteria are met (A.R.S. § 36-439).
Governing authority means the individual, agency, partners, owner, group or corporation, whether appointed, elected or otherwise designated, in which the ultimate responsibility and authority for the conduct of the health care institution are vested. An owner means a person who has an ownership interest of at least 51% of a health care institution (A.R.S. § 36-401).
An OTC that has the same governing authority as a licensed hospital and is staffed by licensed health care providers is exempt from DHS's supervision, licensure, regulation or control unless:
1) patients are kept overnight or are treated under general anesthesia, except when the treatment by general anesthesia is regulated under the dentistry statutes;
2) is an abortion clinic; or
3) is a pain management clinic (A.R.S. § 36-402).
An exempt OTC is subject to reasonable inspection by DHS if the Director has reasonable cause to believe that patient harm is or may be occurring. A substantiated complaint that harm is occurring at an exempt OTC is a violation against the hospital's license (A.R.S. § 36-422).
Provisions
1. Exempts an OTC from licensure, supervision, regulation or control of DHS if it has the same director owner or indirect owner as a licensed hospital, rather than the same governing authority and provides notice to DHS of its decision to be exempt from licensure. (Sec. 2)
2. Specifies that a substantiated complaint that harm is occurring at an exempt OTC is a violation against the license of the hospital listed in the exemption notice provided to DHS. (Sec. 3)
3.
Defines direct owner as a person
that has an ownership or control interest in a health care institution totaling
51% or more. (Sec.1)
4. Defines indirect owner as:
a) a person that has an ownership or control interest in a direct owner totaling 51% or more; and
b) includes an ownership or control interest in an indirect owner totaling 51% or more and a combination of direct ownership and indirect ownership or control interests totaling 51% or more in the health care institution. (Sec. 1)
5. Modifies terms. (Sec.1)
6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-4)
Senate Amendments
1. Requires licensed hospitals to provide and maintain with DHS a current list of exempt OTCs that have the same direct or indirect owner as the hospital.
2. Requires each OTC licensed on September 23, 2022, that does not provide notice to DHS of its intent to be exempt from licensure to remain licensed if the OTC pays the lapsed licensing fees within 60 days of the general effective date.
3. Repeals, on January 1, 2025, the requirement for OTCs licensed on September 23, 2022, that do not provide the licensure exemption notice to pay lapsed licensing fees within 60 days of the general effective date to remain licensed.
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HB 2346
Initials AG Page 0 Senate Engrossed
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