HB 2851-S.E - DIGEST

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 2/14/04)

Provides that a health care facility certified as a critical access hospital under 42 U.S.C. 1395i-4 may increase its total number of licensed beds to the total number of beds permitted under 42 U.S.C. 1395i-4 and may redistribute beds permitted under 42 U.S.C. 1395i-4 among acute care and nursing home care without being subject to certificate of need review.

Provides that, if there is a nursing home licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW within twenty-seven miles of the critical access hospital, the critical access hospital is subject to certificate of need review except for: (1) Critical access hospitals which had designated beds to provide nursing home care, in excess of five swing beds, prior to December 31, 2003; or

(2) Up to five swing beds.

Declares that critical access hospital beds not subject to certificate of need review under this act will not be counted as either acute care or nursing home care for certificate of need review purposes.

Provides that if a health care facility ceases to be certified as a critical access hospital under 42 U.S.C. 1395i-4, the hospital may revert back to the type and number of licensed hospital beds as it had when it requested critical access hospital designation.