§16-2D-9 Agency to render final decision; issue certificate of need; write findings; specify capital expenditure maximum.
§16-2D-9. Agency to render final decision; issue certificate of need; write findings; specify capital expenditure maximum.
(a) Only the state agency, or the appropriate administrative or judicial review body, may issue, deny or withdraw certificates of need, grant exemptions from certificate of need reviews or determine that certificate of need reviews are not required.
(b) A certificate of need may only be issued if the proposed new institutional health service is:
(1) Found to be needed; and
(2) Except in emergency circumstances that pose a threat to public health, consistent with the state health plan.
(c) The state agency shall render a final decision on every application for a certificate of need or application for exemption in the form of an approval, a denial or an approval with conditions. Any decision of the state agency with respect to a certificate of need, or exemption, shall be based solely on:
(1) The review of the state agency conducted in accordance with procedures and criteria in this article, in rules adopted pursuant to section eight of this article and in the certificate of need standards approved pursuant to section five of this article; and
(2) The record established in administrative proceedings held with respect to the certificate of need or exemption.
(d) Approval with conditions does not give the state agency authority to mandate new institutional health services not proposed by the health care facility or health maintenance organization. Issuance of a certificate of need or exemption may not be made subject to any condition unless the condition directly relates to criteria in this article, in rules adopted pursuant to section eight of this article or in the certificate of need standards approved pursuant to section five of this article. Conditions may be imposed upon the operations of the health care facility or health maintenance organization for no longer than a three-year period. Compliance with such conditions may be enforced through the mechanisms detailed in section thirteen of this article.
(e) (1) For each proposed new institutional health service it approves, the state agency shall, in addition to the written findings required in subsection (e), section six of this article, make a written finding, which shall take into account the current accessibility of the facility as a whole, on the extent to which the new institutional health service will meet the criteria in subdivisions (3), (11) and (22), subsection (a), section six of this article, regarding the needs of medically underserved population, except in the following cases:
(A) Where the proposed new institutional health service is one described in subsection (f) of this section to eliminate or prevent certain imminent safety hazards or to comply with certain licensure or accreditation standards; or
(B) Where the new institutional health service is a proposed capital expenditure not directly related to the provision of health services or to beds or major medical equipment.
(2) If the state agency disapproves a proposed new institutional health service for failure to meet the needs of medically underserved populations, it shall so state in a written finding.
(f) (1) Notwithstanding review criteria in section six of this article, an application for a certificate of need shall be approved, if the state agency finds that the facility or service with respect to which such capital expenditure is proposed to be made is needed and that the obligation of such capital expenditure is consistent with the state health plan, for a capital expenditure which is required:
(A) To eliminate or prevent imminent safety hazards as defined by federal, state or local fire, building or life safety codes, rules or regulations;
(B) To comply with state licensure standards; or
(C) To comply with accreditation or certification standards, compliance with which is required to receive reimbursements under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or payments under the state plan for medical assistance approved under Title XIX of such act.
(2) An application for a certificate of need approved under this subsection shall be approved only to the extent that the capital expenditure is required to eliminate or prevent the hazards described in subparagraph (A), subdivision (1), subsection (f) of this section, or to comply with the standards described in either subparagraph (B) or (C), subdivision (1), subsection (f) of this section.
(g) The state agency shall send its decision along with written findings to the person proposing the new institutional health service or exemption and shall make it available to others upon request.
(h) In the case of a final decision to approve or approve with conditions a proposal for a new institutional health service, the state agency shall issue a certificate of need to the person proposing the new institutional health service.
(i) The state agency shall specify in the certificate the maximum amount of capital expenditures which may be obligated under such certificate. The state agency shall prescribe the method used to determine capital expenditure maximums and shall adopt rules pursuant to section eight of this article for the review of approved new institutional health services for which the capital expenditure maximum is exceeded or is expected to be exceeded.
(j) If the state agency fails to make a decision within the time period specified for the review, the applicant may, within one year following the expiration of such period, bring an action, at the election of the applicant, in either the circuit court of Kanawha County, or with the judge thereof in vacation, or in the circuit court of the county in which the applicant or any one of the applicants resides or does business, or with the judge thereof in vacation to require the state agency to approve or disapprove the application. An application for a proposed new institutional health service or exemption may not be approved or denied by the circuit court solely because the state agency failed to reach a decision.