70.45.080 - Department review -- Criteria for continued existence of accessible, affordable health care.

Department review — Criteria for continued existence of accessible, affordable health care.

The department shall only approve an application if the acquisition in question will not detrimentally affect the continued existence of accessible, affordable health care that is responsive to the needs of the community in which the hospital to be acquired is located. To this end, the department shall not approve an application unless, at a minimum, it determines that:

     (1) Sufficient safeguards are included to assure the affected community continued access to affordable care, and that alternative sources of care are available in the community should the acquisition result in a reduction or elimination of particular health services;

     (2) The acquisition will not result in the revocation of hospital privileges;

     (3) Sufficient safeguards are included to maintain appropriate capacity for health science research and health care provider education;

     (4) The acquiring person and parties to the acquisition are committed to providing health care to the disadvantaged, the uninsured, and the underinsured and to providing benefits to promote improved health in the affected community. Activities and funding provided under RCW 70.45.070(8) may be considered in evaluating compliance with this commitment; and

     (5) Sufficient safeguards are included to avoid conflict of interest in patient referral.

[1997 c 332 § 8.]