SB 848 Summary

• Establishes licensing fees for home health care agencies ($300 per agency, $100 per satellite office) and assisted living services agencies ($500 per site), effective July 1, 2013.

• Increases professional licensing and renewal fees for nurses, dentists, and other health professionals by $5-$25, and modifies online renewal requirements to mandate credit card or electronic fund transfers for payment.

• Creates a new program for Commissioner of Public Health to provide financial assistance to federally qualified community health centers based on uninsured patient numbers and types of services provided.

• Expands certificate of need review criteria to require consideration of Medicaid access and cost-effectiveness impact, and adds new guideline requiring applicants to demonstrate good cause if they have reduced access to services for Medicaid recipients or indigent persons.

• Requires hospital organizations to conduct and publicly disclose community health needs assessments and implementation strategies, and mandates submission of biennial reports on community benefits programs to the Healthcare Advocate.