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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends requirements impacting health care facilities.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ defines terms; and
13 ▸ establishes minimum standards for freestanding emergency departments.
14 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15 None
16 Other Special Clauses:
17 This bill provides a special effective date.
18 Utah Code Sections Affected:
19 AMENDS:
20 26B-2-203, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 305
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22 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23 Section 1. Section 26B-2-203 is amended to read:
24 26B-2-203. Services required -- General acute hospitals -- Specialty hospitals --
25 Satellite operations and branch locations.
26 (1) For purposes of this section:
27 (a) "Freestanding emergency department" means a licensed satellite service operation,
28 hospital outpatient department, or branch location that:
29 (i) provides emergency care or critical care; or
30 (ii) holds itself out as providing emergency care or critical care.
31 (b) "Rural emergency medical services" means the same as that term is defined in
32 Section 59-12-801.
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34 continuously ready to receive patients 24 hours of every day in a year and have an attending
35 medical staff consisting of one or more physicians licensed to practice medicine and surgery
36 under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, or Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah
37 Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
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39 general acute hospital that are needed for the diagnosis, therapy, or rehabilitation offered to or
40 required by patients admitted to or cared for in the facility.
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42 therapeutic services directly through the agency employees.
43 (b) A home health agency may provide additional services itself or under arrangements
44 with another agency, organization, facility, or individual.
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46 qualified medical provider, as that term is defined in Section 26B-4-201, for the treatment of
47 hospice patients.
48 (6) (a) This Subsection (6) does not apply to freestanding emergency departments
49 providing rural emergency medical services.
50 (b) A freestanding emergency department shall have available, at a minimum, on-site,
51 and on a continuous basis during operating hours:
52 (i) the capability and the certified personnel available to conduct and implement the
53 use of:
54 (A) CT scans;
55 (B) ultrasounds;
56 (C) x-rays; and
57 (D) clinical laboratory tests and analysis that are customarily used in emergency
58 medical settings;
59 (ii) a physician who:
60 (A) is licensed under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, or Chapter 68,
61 Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act; and
62 (B) has specialized training and experience in providing emergency medical services;
63 (iii) two registered nurses who:
64 (A) are licensed under Title 58, Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act; and
65 (B) has specialized training and experience in providing emergency medical services;
66 (iv) a respiratory therapist who is licensed under Title 58, Chapter 57, Respiratory Care
67 Practices Act; and
68 (v) a certified medical laboratory scientist or a certified medical laboratory
69 technologist.
70 Section 2. Effective date.
71 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.