70.41.090 - Hospital license required -- Certificate of need required.

Hospital license required — Certificate of need required.

(1) No person or governmental unit of the state of Washington, acting separately or jointly with any other person or governmental unit, shall establish, maintain, or conduct a hospital in this state, or use the word "hospital" to describe or identify an institution, without a license under this chapter: PROVIDED, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to state mental institutions and psychiatric hospitals which come within the scope of chapter 71.12 RCW.

     (2) After June 30, 1989, no hospital shall initiate a tertiary health service as defined in RCW 70.38.025(14) unless it has received a certificate of need as provided in RCW 70.38.105 and 70.38.115.

     (3) A rural health care facility licensed under RCW 70.175.100 formerly licensed as a hospital under this chapter may, within three years of the effective date of the rural health care facility license, apply to the department for a hospital license and not be required to meet certificate of need requirements under chapter 70.38 RCW as a new health care facility and not be required to meet new construction requirements as a new hospital under this chapter. These exceptions are subject to the following: The facility at the time of initial conversion was considered by the department to be in compliance with the hospital licensing rules and the condition of the physical plant and equipment is equal to or exceeds the level of compliance that existed at the time of conversion to a rural health care facility. The department shall inspect and determine compliance with the hospital rules prior to reissuing a hospital license.

     A rural hospital, as defined by the department, reducing the number of licensed beds to become a rural primary care hospital under the provisions of Part A Title XVIII of the Social Security Act Section 1820, 42 U.S.C., 1395c et seq. may, within three years of the reduction of licensed beds, increase the number of beds licensed under this chapter to no more than the previously licensed number of beds without being subject to the provisions of chapter 70.38 RCW and without being required to meet new construction requirements under this chapter. These exceptions are subject to the following: The facility at the time of the reduction in licensed beds was considered by the department to be in compliance with the hospital licensing rules and the condition of the physical plant and equipment is equal to or exceeds the level of compliance that existed at the time of the reduction in licensed beds. The department may inspect and determine compliance with the hospital rules prior to increasing the hospital license.

[1992 c 27 § 3; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 § 611; 1955 c 267 § 9.]

Notes: Effective date -- Severability -- 1989 1st ex.s. c 9: See RCW 43.70.910 and 43.70.920.