HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1445

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to hospital regulation and inspection.

Brief Description:  Streamlining hospital regulation and inspection.

Sponsors:  Representatives Silver, Valle, Sommers, Ogden, Fuhrman and Kremen; by request of Legislative Budget Committee.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/16/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Hymes, Vice Chairman; Dellwo, Ranking Minority Member; Cody, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Crouse; Kessler; Morris; Sherstad and Skinner.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  The Legislative Budget Committee conducted a study in 1994 on hospital health and safety regulations for achieving efficiencies and economies in the state's regulatory program. This resulted in the introduction of this "request legislation" which implements the study recommendations.

Hospitals are licensed by the department of Health for the safe and adequate care and treatment of patients in accordance with standards adopted by the department, in cooperation with the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

The Department of Health is required to conduct annual inspections of hospitals for construction and operations. The Department of Social and Health Services is required to inspect for compliance with resident rights and direct care standards.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Health is urged to conform its standards for hospital construction, maintenance and operation to the format and content of the survey standards of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

To avoid duplication in inspections, the department must coordinate with the Department of Social and Health Services when these agencies have joint jurisdiction such as in acute care and skilled nursing or psychiatric nursing functions, and medicaid/medicare long-term care beds.

A hospital accredited by the Joint Commission is not subject to an annual inspection if the survey standards are substantially equivalent to state standards; and the Commission has inspected it within the last twelve months; and the department receives from the Commission a copy of the survey reports verifying that the hospital meets applicable standards.

The Department of Health must study alternative strategies for achieving greater efficiencies in the hospital building design and review process, and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 1996.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This implements the recommendations of the Legislative Budget Committee for achieving more efficiencies and economics in the state's hospital regulatory program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dan Sexton, Washington State Plumbers and Pipefitters Association; and Robb Menaul, Washington State Hospital Association.