Brief Description: Regarding the certification and recertification of health care facilities.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Fromhold, Hinkle, Cody and Moeller).

House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Health care facilities that participate in the Medicare or Medicaid program must be certified by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in order to receive reimbursement for services rendered.

Under an agreement with the federal government the Department of Health (DOH) receives federal funding from the CMS to certify these health care facilities.

The DOH's certification work includes complaint investigations, surveys for recertification of existing Medicare facilities, and initial certifications of new facilities. The facilities covered by this work include hospitals, home health agencies, rehabilitation services, rural health clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and kidney dialysis centers.

Under an agreement with the federal government, the CMS establishes four priority levels of certification activity to be done under the DOH's grant agreement. The CMS establishes a set budget allocation for each state. The DOH then identifies the amount of work it can do based on the budget allocation and priorities set by the CMS.

Four of the six types of facilities (home health, hospice, hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers) covered by the program have the option to obtain their initial federal certification survey through independent accrediting organizations. However, there are no independent accrediting organizations for kidney dialysis centers and rural health clinics.

Summary:

The DOH may assess fees for the certification and recertification of health care facilities when the federal government does not provide sufficient funding to cover all certifications and recertifications.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   1
Senate   46   0

Effective: July 22, 2007