HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5114

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to an exemption from annual inspections for hospitals accredited by the American osteopathic association.

Brief Description:  Exempting certain hospitals from annual inspections.

Sponsors:  Senators Honeyford, Thibaudeau and Deccio.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  3/18/99, 4/1/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Exempts a hospital from the annual inspection by the Department of Health if a hospital is accredited by the Osteopathic Medical Association, has equivalent standards, has been inspected by the association within the previous 12 months, and demonstrates that the hospital meets department standards.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Cody, Democratic Co-Chair; Parlette, Republican Co-Chair; Pflug, Republican Vice Chair; Schual-Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Alexander; Boldt; Campbell; Conway; Edmonds; Mulliken and Ruderman.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:

Hospitals are licensed by the Department of Health, and annual inspections of their premises and operations are required by law.  However, a hospital is exempt from an annual inspection if it meets three conditions.  First, it is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations and these accreditation standards are substantially equivalent to department standards.  Second, the hospital has undergone an inspection by the accreditation commission within the previous 12 months.  And third, the department receives a copy of the survey report prepared by the accreditation commission demonstrating that the hospital meets the applicable standards.

The joint commission is a private not-for-profit organization that offers accreditation to hospitals which meet its professional standards and performance measures.

There is no exemption from an annual inspection for a hospital accredited by the American Osteopathic Association.  The osteopathic accreditation association is a private organization which operates as an accreditation body for hospitals which meet the criteria of osteopathic medicine.  It is approved by the federal Health Care Finance Administration to conduct accreditation surveys of acute care hospitals and hospital laboratories.

Summary of Bill:

A hospital accredited by the Osteopathic Medical Association is exempted from an annual inspection by the Department of Health under the same conditions as a hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is a cost-effective measure for hospitals accredited by the American Osteopathic Association and creates consistency within the regulatory reform process for hospital licensing rules.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jeff Larsen, Washington Osteopathic Medical Association.