SB 5833 - DIGEST

(SEE ALSO PROPOSED 1ST SUB)

Finds and declares that it is in the interest of the public health and safety of patients to improve the regulatory environment for hospitals and affiliated health care services and facilities by requiring state agencies that survey hospitals and their affiliated health care services and facilities to coordinate the scheduling of surveys and audits, to provide advance notice of surveys and audits to hospitals, and to share information obtained during surveys and audits.

Finds that hospitals, particularly those in rural communities, that provide a continuum of health care services including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or ambulance services, all of which are subject to licensing surveys, will be better able to respond to surveys and audits, and implement suggested changes to improve the quality of patient care, if hospitals are not subject to simultaneous or back-to-back surveys or audits.

Declares that surveys and audits will be more cost-effective for hospitals and affiliated services and facilities if hospitals are not required to respond to multiple requests for the same information.