The bill proposes to amend the regulation of surgical practices in New Jersey by eliminating the requirement for these practices to be licensed as ambulatory care facilities. Instead, surgical practices will now be required to register with the Department of Health (DOH), which involves a nonrefundable fee not exceeding $1,000 and a registration period of five years. The bill also specifies that surgical practices that are Medicare-certified or accredited by recognized organizations will be exempt from certain physical plant and functional requirements. Additionally, registered surgical practices will be exempt from the ambulatory care facility assessment unless they expand to include additional operating rooms. The legislation aims to enhance patient access to surgical services and improve the efficiency and quality of care within the state's healthcare system. By replacing the licensing requirement with a registration process, the bill seeks to promote the establishment of new surgical practices, thereby alleviating the burden on hospital operating rooms. It also addresses concerns about physician self-referral while ensuring that physicians disclose ownership interests in healthcare practices. Overall, the sponsor believes these changes will lead to better patient options for surgical procedures and help mitigate issues such as understaffing and scheduling delays in hospitals.

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