Saturday, August 15, 2009

Please read this section. Why is the Government telling hospitals when and how they can expand their facilities?

Bottom of Page 317 Top of Page 318

(C) PROHIBITION ON EXPANSION OF FACILITY CAPACITY.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the number of operating rooms, procedure rooms, or beds of the hospital at any time on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection are no greater than the number of operating rooms, procedure rooms, or beds, respectively, as of such date.

(2) EXCEPTION TO PROHIBITION ON EXPANSION OF FACILITY CAPACITY.—
PROCESS.—
(i) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish and implement a process under which a hospital may apply for an exception from the requirement under paragraph (1)(C).
(ii) OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.—The process under clause (i) shall provide persons and entities in the community in which the hospital applying for an exception is located with the opportunity to provide input with respect to the application.
(iii) TIMING FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall implement the process under clause (i) on the date that is one month after the promulgation of regulations described in clause (iv).
(iv) REGULATIONS.—Not later than the first day of the month beginning 18 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out the process under clause (i). The Secretary may issue such regulations as interim final regulations.
(B) FREQUENCY.—The process described in subparagraph (A) shall permit a hospital to apply for an exception up to once every 2 years.



Bottom of Page 322 Top of Page 323

(ii) 100 PERCENT INCREASE LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not permit an
increase in the number of operating rooms, procedure rooms, or beds of a hospital under clause (i) to the extent such increase would result in the number of operating rooms, procedure rooms, or beds of the hospital exceeding 200 percent of the base line number of operating rooms, procedure rooms, or beds of the hospital.



Bottom of Page 323 to Top of Page 325

(E) CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE IN FACILITY CAPACITY.—The Secretary may grant an exception under the process described in subparagraph (A) only to a hospital—
(i) that is located in a county in which the percentage increase in the population during the most recent 5-year period for which data are available is estimated to be at least 150 percent of the percentage increase in the population growth of the State in which the hospital is located during that period, as estimated by Bureau of the Census and available to the Secretary;
(ii) whose annual percent of total inpatient admissions that represent inpatient admissions under the program under title XIX is estimated to be equal to or greater than the average percent with respect to such admissions for all hospitals located in the county in which the hospital is located;
(iii) that does not discriminate against beneficiaries of Federal health care programs and does not permit physicians practicing at the hospital to discriminate against such beneficiaries;
(iv) that is located in a State in which the average bed capacity in the State is estimated to be less than the national average bed capacity;
(v) that has an average bed occupancy rate that is estimated to be greater than the average bed occupancy rate in the State in which the hospital is located; and
(vi) that meets other conditions as determined by the Secretary.


What other Conditions?


Bottom of Page 323

(D) INCREASE LIMITED TO FACILITIES ON THE MAIN CAMPUS OF THE HOSPITAL.—Any increase in the number of operating rooms, procedure rooms, or beds of a hospital pursuant to this paragraph may only occur in facilities on the main campus of the hospital.

So we’re telling hospitals not only if, but where they can add to their facilities.

No comments:

Post a Comment