Section 124860 Of Chapter 6. Small And Rural Hospitals From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 106. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 6.
124860
. (a) The department, after consultation with an organization
of interest, shall select two strategically located, high-risk rural
hospitals to plan and implement rural alternative hospital
demonstration projects. To the extent possible, the department shall
choose two demonstration sites, with one site serving an isolated
mountainous area where access may be impeded by adverse weather
conditions, and one site located in a rural agricultural community.
Hospitals shall be selected on the basis of their interest in
becoming a demonstration site and on their suitability as model rural
alternative hospitals. The demonstration projects shall include, but
not be limited to, identification of the following:
(1) Appropriate mix and type of services to be provided locally
and obtained on referral.
(2) Types and numbers of personnel required.
(3) Probability of, and the amount of, reimbursement under current
regulations.
(4) Statutory and regulatory changes necessary to license the
facility and maximize reimbursement.
(b) In administering the rural alternative hospital demonstration
project, the department shall do all of the following:
(1) Establish two demonstration sites on or before January 1,
1990, and operate the projects for a period of up to 18 months.
(2) Grant exceptions to the licensure requirements for general
acute care hospitals that are necessary to serve the purposes of this
section when the granting of the exceptions do not jeopardize the
health and welfare of patients.
(3) Convey to the Federal Health Care Financing Administration its
intent to establish the rural alternative hospital demonstration
project and seek any necessary appropriate waivers.
(4) Consider requests for grant funds made by demonstration site
hospitals pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1188.86 as meeting
criteria for priority funding.
(5) Monitor and evaluate demonstration site projects as to the
applicability of these models for statewide application.
(c) The department, based on interim findings from the
demonstration projects, shall do either of the following:
(1) Prepare and adopt regulations establishing the rural
alternative hospital as a licensed health facility by January 1,
1992.
(2) Submit to the Legislature by that date a report detailing why
a category of health facility should not be established.