Brief Description: Establishing emergency service requirements for hospitals.

Sponsors: Senators Deccio and Thibaudeau.

Hearing Date: 4/1/03

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

State Regulation of Hospitals

Hospitals are health care facilities that provide continuous accommodations, facilities, and services, over a period of at least 24 hours, to patients requiring observation, diagnosis, or care. Acute care hospitals may serve patients who require surgery and interventional services, obstetrical and nursery services, emergency care units or services, critical care units or services, cardiology services, pediatric care services, rehabilitation units, oncology services, and laboratory services.

If a hospital chooses to provide emergency services, state regulations require that emergency facilities: are appropriately located and accessible; have at least one major treatment or trauma room; have a minor treatment and examination room; have an observation room; and have room for severely disturbed patients. If the hospital provides regular trauma care, it must meet additional criteria.

A person must obtain a certificate of need from the Department of Health (Department) prior to the construction, development, establishment, or sale of a hospital, or an increase in bed capacity or the addition of a tertiary health service at a hospital. The Department must consider specific criteria when determining whether or not to issue a certificate of need including: (1) the population's need for the service; (2) the availability of less costly or more effective alternative methods of providing the service; (3) the financial feasibility and probable impact of the proposal on the cost of health care in the community; (4) the need and availability of services and facilities for physicians and their patients in the community; (5) the efficiency and appropriateness of the use of existing services and facilities similar to those proposed; and (6) whether the hospital meets or exceeds the regional average level of charity care.

Federal Law Regarding Emergency Services

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals that have an emergency department and participate in the Medicare program to provide care for any individual that comes to the hospital's emergency department. Such care includes providing the individual with a medical screening exam to determine the presence of an emergency condition. If such a condition is present, the hospital must either provide treatment to stabilize the person or, if the resources to treat the person are not available, transfer the individual to another medical facility.

Summary of Bill:

All licensed hospitals in Washington must provide emergency services 24 hours per day, seven days per week in a designated area of the hospital. Each hospital must have at least an emergency physician who is immediately available, a roster of on-call medical staff members, and procedures to ensure the patient's safety until transfer to a more appropriate facility for the patient's needs. Each hospital must meet all state and federal laws regarding emergency care and facilities.

The emergency services requirement does not apply to: hospitals that only provide psychiatric, pediatric, long-term acute care, or rehabilitative services; hospitals licensed before January 1, 2003; and hospitals that are designated as critical access hospitals.

The Department of Health (Department) must conduct a study of issues pertaining to specialty hospitals with interested parties, including hospitals, physicians, and nurses. The study shall examine the establishment of specialty hospitals, the requirements of this bill regarding the provision of emergency services, and the impact of specialty hospitals on the delivery of health care. The Department must report to the Legislature by December 1, 2003. The Legislature must reevaluate the requirements of this bill based upon the study.

The requirement that hospitals have emergency facilities and offer emergency services expires on July 1, 2004.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 28, 2003.

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