Assigned to HHS                                                                                                                            AS ENACTED

 


 

 

 


ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session

 

ENACTED

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1141/h.b. 2290

 

health care institutions; accreditation; inspections

Purpose

            Permits the Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS) to accept an accreditation report in lieu of a compliance inspection for all health care institutions.

Background

            DHS is required to inspect the premises of health care institutions in Arizona, investigate the character and other qualifications of health care institutions and determine if health care institutions are in substantial compliance with prescribed licensure requirements. DHS is required to accept proof that a health care institution is an accredited health care institution in lieu of any required compliance inspections, if DHS receives the health care institution's accreditation report for a given licensure period. If the health care institution's accreditation report is not valid for the entire licensure period, DHS is permitted to conduct compliance inspections during the licensure period not covered by a valid accreditation report (A.R.S. § 36-424).

            Current statute authorizes the Director of DHS to accept accreditation reports in lieu of compliance inspections from behavioral health residential facilities (BHRFs) that provide behavioral health services to children if the BHRF: 1) is accredited by an independent, nonprofit accrediting organization approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and 2) has not been subject to an enforcement action within one year preceding the annual licensing fee date (Laws 2019, Ch. 134).

            Health care institutions are every place, institution, building or agency, whether organized for profit or not, that provides facilities with medical services, nursing services, behavioral health services, health screening services, other health-related services, supervisory care services, personal care services or directed care services and includes home health agencies, outdoor behavioral health care programs and hospice service agencies. Community residential settings are not considered health care institutions (A.R.S. § 36-401).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.   Authorizes the Director of DHS to accept an accreditation report in lieu of an inspection of a health care institution or BHRF, rather than only BHRFs that provide services to children, if specified criteria are met.

2.   Makes technical changes.

3.   Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Senate Action                                                          House Action

HHS                1/20/21      DP     8-0-0                    HHS                1/25/21      DP     9-0-0-0

3rd Read          1/28/21                 29-0-1                  3rd Read          2/4/21                   59-0-0-0-1

                                                                                 (S.B. 1141 was substituted for H.B. 2290 on

                                                                                 3rd Read)

Signed by the Governor 2/12/21

Chapter 15

Prepared by Senate Research

February 25, 2021

CRS/kja