Roadrunner Capitol Reports
Legislation Detail

S 245 RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL LICENSURE

Sen Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics

Actions: [4] SIRC/SHPAC-SIRC [8] DP-SHPAC [9] DP - PASSED/S (34-0) [12] HRDLC/HHHC-HRDLC [13] DP-HHHC [17] DP [18] PASSED/H (52-0)

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

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Summary:
 Senate Bill 245 (SB 245) allows rural health facilities to apply for rural emergency licensure, and establishes licensure requirements. 
Legislation Overview:
 A new section of the Public Health Act (PHA) is enacted to establish a rural emergency hospital license that enables certain hospitals to apply to receive federal health care reimbursement as rural emergency hospitals. Qualifying hospitals must be designated as a critical access hospital for Medicare and Medicaid services or licensed as a hospital with less than 50 beds and located in a rural county. Such hospitals must provide emergency services 24 hours per day, seven days a week, and must be staffed at all times with a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant. Further, they must have a transfer agreement with a Level I or Level II trauma center; They may not have an annual average patient length of stay over 24 hours; and they must meet any other health department requirements. Application requirements are detailed.  
Current Law:
 Currently, there is no mechanism to provide emergency licensure to rural hospitals in New Mexico. If the bill does not pass, the existing limitation remains. 
Relates To:
 HB 47 Rural Health Care Project Revolving Fund 
SB 247 Uniform Licensing Act Changes