(1) The department shall use the following rules, in addition to those under WAC
246-310-380 to interpret the certificate of need review criteria contained in WAC
246-310-210,
246-310-220,
246-310-230, and
246-310-240 for applications by hospitals proposing an increase in the number of designated swing beds.
(2) Swing beds are defined as up to the first five hospital beds, so designated by an eligible rural hospital, which are available to provide either acute care or long-term care nursing services as required.
(3) Hospitals proposing swing bed projects shall:
(a) Be located in geographic areas of the state defined by the United States Bureau of the Census as a nonstandardized metropolitan statistical area; and
(b) Have total licensed bed capacity not exceeding one hundred.
(4) Hospitals shall demonstrate ability to meet minimum medicare standards of care for rural hospital swing beds.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
70.38 RCW. WSR 96-24-052, § 246-310-410, filed 11/27/96, effective 12/28/96. Statutory Authority: RCW
70.38.135 and
70.38.919. WSR 92-02-018 (Order 224), § 246-310-410, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.70.040. WSR 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-310-410, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW
70.38.919. WSR 90-12-072 (Order 063), § 248-19-860, filed 6/1/90, effective 7/1/90.]