CA Health & Safety Code Section 1339.15

A primary health service hospital may request waivers pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1339.7, and Section 1339.25, authorization for swing beds pursuant to Section 1339.8 and seek the benefits pursuant to subdivision (l) of Section 1339.7 by submitting a health service plan. The health service plan shall be submitted to the state department and the health systems agency and shall contain the following as appropriate and dependent on the needs of the community:

(a)

A description of the hospital’s current capabilities with emphasis on the following:

(1)

Primary and preventive care services including life saving services.

(2)

Community access to health services.

(3)

Cost effectiveness.

(b)

Additionally, and as appropriate, the plan shall include:

(1)

A description of any services to be deleted from those authorized by license at the time the plan is submitted with a description of the impact the deletion of this service will have on the community.

(2)

A description of any services to be added to those authorized by license at the time the plan is submitted, including evidence of market feasibility, methods and schedule for plan implementation, evidence of community and medical staff support of the plan, and evidence of coordination with other health providers and services in the community.

(3)

Requests for waivers or exemptions which do not jeopardize the health, safety, and well-being of patients affected, and which are needed for increased operational efficiency or to implement the health service plan.

(4)

Identification of the number of acute care beds in the hospital, if any, requested for use as swing beds, depending upon community need and projected utilization, including a description of the way in which medical care will be provided to those patients and a description of how the facility will provide for the transfer of long-term care patients when the need for acute care beds develops.