DE SB171

Requires urgent care facilities in Delaware to obtain a license from the Department of Health and Social Services, with provisional licenses valid for up to 9 months and regular licenses valid for up to 24 months.

Establishes licensing by accreditation requirement, allowing facilities to obtain provisional licenses while seeking accreditation from an approved accrediting body, or regular licenses upon proof of accreditation.

Imposes fines of up to $5,000 for the first offense and up to $10,000 for each subsequent offense for operating without proper licensing or accreditation, with each day of violation counted as a separate offense.

Requires all urgent care facilities to enroll in the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) by January 1, 2020 and notify patients' primary care providers of urgent care visits to facilitate care coordination.

Authorizes the Department to investigate and inspect facilities upon receipt of patient or employee complaints or occurrence of adverse events, and empowers the Department to order facility closure if it poses substantial risk to public health or safety.