The bill amends the Public Health Code to introduce a new section, 22224d, which allows individuals seeking to initiate, expand, replace, relocate, or acquire certain outpatient imaging services to file a letter of intent with the Department of Health instead of obtaining a certificate of need. The services covered under this provision include positron emission tomography scanner services, fixed or mobile magnetic resonance imager services, and fixed or mobile computerized tomography scanner services. If the department verifies that the services will be provided through an outpatient imaging center, it must send a written acknowledgment of approval within 30 days of receiving the letter of intent.

Additionally, the bill specifies that individuals cannot proceed with the initiation, expansion, replacement, relocation, or acquisition of the specified imaging services without first receiving this written acknowledgment from the department. The bill also defines key terms, including "facility fee," which refers to costs associated with the operation of the facility rather than the services provided, and "outpatient imaging center," which is defined as a facility that does not operate under a hospital's ownership and does not impose a facility fee.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 333.1101, 333.25211