The bill aims to enhance public health and safety by repealing existing limitations on bed expansion for nursing care facilities and hospitals in Wyoming. Specifically, it removes the definitions and provisions related to the "construction area" and the restrictions on expanding nursing care facility beds based on occupancy rates. The sections being repealed include W.S. 35-2-901(a)(v) and W.S. 35-2-906(b), (c), (f), and (g), which previously set conditions for bed expansion based on occupancy levels and allowed for limited increases in bed capacity.

By eliminating these restrictions, the bill facilitates greater flexibility for nursing care facilities and hospitals to expand their bed capacity without being constrained by occupancy metrics. The effective date for this change is set for July 1, 2024, allowing facilities to prepare for the new regulations. Overall, this legislative change is intended to improve access to healthcare services in Wyoming by enabling facilities to respond more effectively to community needs.

Statutes affected:
24LSO-0151 v0.4: 35-2-901, 35-2-906