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AB-951 Clinics: interim license.(2001-2002)

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AB951:v91#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 951
CHAPTER 525

An act to add Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 1221) to Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to clinics.

[ Filed with Secretary of State  October 05, 2001. Approved by Governor  October 04, 2001. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 951, Florez. Clinics: interim license.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of clinics by the State Department of Health Services. When a clinic files an application for a license, existing law requires the department to conduct an investigation of the facts in the application and the clinic’s compliance with statutory requirements for licensure.
Under existing law, the department also licenses and regulates health facilities. License applications for certain health facilities are processed by the centralized applications unit in the Licensing and Certification Division of the department.
This bill would require the centralized applications unit to review, commencing July 1, 2002, all new applications for nonprofit primary care clinics, nonprofit community health centers, nonprofit community clinics, and free clinics. The bill would require the Licensing and Certification Division to designate surveyors to specialize in clinic surveys and complaint investigation.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) There are an estimated 7 million persons in California without health insurance coverage.
(b) Many of these 7 million persons have no access to preventive primary health care services due to their being no health care facility in their communities.
(c) Nonprofit community health centers were created by the federal and state governments to serve uninsured, medically indigent communities, and establish clinic sites in these communities.
(d) Nonprofit community health center corporations continue to expand their clinic networks by establishing new clinic sites in federally designated medically underserved areas, serving medically underserved populations in health professional shortage areas.
(e) The State Department of Health Services Licensing and Certification Division is responsible for conduction licensing reviews of clinic sites.
(f) It can take up to one year to conduct a licensing review of a new clinic site, and the department can issue a six-month temporary license that allows new clinic sites to operate 20 hours per week.

SEC. 2.

 Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 1221) is added to Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Article  2.5. Licensing of Clinics

1221.
 For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) “Centralized applications unit” means the centralized applications unit in the Licensing and Certification Division of the State Department of Health Services, or a successor entity.
(b) “Clinic” means nonprofit primary care clinics, nonprofit community health centers, nonprofit community clinics, and free clinics.

1221.05.
 Commencing July 1, 2002, all new applications for licenses for clinics shall be reviewed by the centralized applications unit.

1221.09.
 Commencing January 1, 2002, the centralized applications unit shall work with organizations that are among and advocate on behalf of, clinics to streamline application forms and clarify information needed to qualify as completed.

1221.11.
 Commencing January 1, 2002, a telephone number shall be provided for applicants to verify receipt of their application by the Licensing and Certification Division.

1221.13.
 All new applications submitted to the centralized applications unit shall be reviewed within two weeks for completeness. The centralized applications unit shall resolve minor issues directly with the applicant.

1221.15.
 (a) Commencing January 1, 2002, the Licensing and Certification Division shall designate at least one surveyor in each of the four regions to specialize in clinic surveys and complaint investigations. The program shall cross-train additional staff in this specialty.
(b) Commencing January 1, 2002, all completed packages forwarded by the centralized applications unit to the regional clinic specialists shall be scheduled for survey within 30 days of receipt.

1221.17.
 The Licensing and Certification Program training unit shall work with organizations that are among and advocate on behalf of clinics and other stakeholders to develop a training curriculum on clinic specialization, including the special needs of rural clinics.

1221.19.
 The centralized applications unit and regional offices shall be routinely reviewed by the department beginning January 31, 2003, to determine if applications for clinic licenses are processed in a timely and effective manner.