Licensure of Critical Access Hospitals

Currently, certain rural hospitals must be licensed as general hospitals under state law and under federal law are designated as critical access hospitals.

The bill:

• Authorizes the department of public health and environment (department) to license critical access hospitals separately from general hospitals;
• Prohibits a person from operating a critical access hospital without a license; and
• Requires the department to promulgate rules concerning the licensure of critical access hospitals.
  (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)