The bill seeks to revise the certificate of need requirements for Washington's cardiac care delivery system to improve its stability, efficiency, and equity. It amends RCW 70.38.128, mandating the Department of Health to establish rules for issuing certificates of need for elective percutaneous coronary interventions, aligning these rules with national patient safety and quality standards. Notably, the previous requirement for an independent evidence-based review prior to rule-making has been removed, and the new regulations must be consistent with the existing exemption outlined in RCW 70.38.111(15).

Additionally, the bill reenacts and amends RCW 70.38.111, detailing exemptions from the certificate of need requirement for health maintenance organizations and healthcare facilities that meet specific criteria. It allows nursing homes and rural hospitals to adjust their licensed bed counts without a certificate of need under certain conditions. The legislation also specifies that the Department of Health cannot require a certificate of need for the addition of beds in specific cases, such as for behavioral health hospitals treating adults under involuntary commitment orders, and for ambulatory surgical facilities meeting certain criteria. Furthermore, it exempts elective percutaneous coronary interventions at accredited hospitals recognized as comprehensive or primary heart attack centers from needing a certificate of need, thereby streamlining access to essential cardiac services.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.38.128