Title: An act relating to inspection of hospitals.

Brief Description: Revising provisions for inspection of hospitals.

Sponsors: By Representatives Appleton, Bailey, Cody, Morrell, Skinner, Hinkle, Curtis and Campbell; by request of Department of Health.

Brief History:

Health Care: 2/24/05, 2/28/05 [DP];

Appropriations: 3/5/05 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/11/05, 95-0.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/12/05, 44-0.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 4/18/05, 95-0.
Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Hinkle, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Buri, Clements, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, Talcott and Walsh.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Amy Hanson (786-7118).

Background:

The Department of Health (Department) must conduct annual inspections of hospitals, unless the hospital has been inspected by either the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations or the American Osteopathic Association within the previous year. The Department is required to coordinate hospital inspection activities with other agencies, including the Department of Social and Health Services and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, to minimize the number of separate inspections that must be conducted.

Summary of Bill:

The requirement that the Department conduct inspections of hospitals every 12 months is extended to an average of every 18 months. Surveys conducted by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations or the American Osteopathic Association may substitute for a Department survey as long as their standards are substantially equivalent to those of the Department. The hospital is responsible for notifying the Department within 30 days of an accreditation inspection and making the inspection report available to the Department.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: (Health Care) An 18 month survey cycle assures that health facilities will be surveyed with greater regularity and allows the Department of Health to focus on the facilities that have known issues.

(With concerns) Extending the time period for conducting facility should not result in higher licensing fees.

Testimony For: (Appropriations) There are two primary reasons for changing the hospital survey frequency from 12 months to 18 months. First, the Department of Health (Department) has never had enough staffing to meet the annual survey requirement and the State Auditor has cited the Department in the last two audits. Second, an 18-month cycle helps to create a much better survey system.

Testimony Against: (Health Care) None.

Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.

Persons Testifying: (Health Care) (In support) Laurie Jinkins, Department of Health.

(With concerns) Len McComb, Washington State Hospital Association.

Persons Testifying: (Appropriations) Laurie Jinkins, Department of Health.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Health Care) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Appropriations) None.