The bill amends New Jersey law to remove the requirement for surgical practices to be licensed as ambulatory care facilities, allowing them to operate by simply registering with the Department of Health within one year of the bill's effective date. Surgical practices must still obtain certification from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or accreditation from recognized bodies to bypass certain physical plant and functional requirements. The bill also clarifies the definition of "surgical practice" and establishes conditions for operation, including reporting requirements and the necessity for accreditation.

Additionally, the bill exempts registered surgical practices from the ambulatory care facility assessment unless they expand their operations to include more operating rooms. It also clarifies compliance for referrals made by practitioners with a significant beneficial interest in the surgical practices, provided they meet specific documentation standards. The bill eliminates the existing moratorium on new registrations for surgical practices and assigns the Commissioner of Health the responsibility to adopt necessary regulations for implementation. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2H-12, 45:9-22.5