CS/CS/HB 1159 Summary

• Revises definitions of "Level II trauma center" and "trauma center" to allow hospitals in areas with limited access to trauma services to be designated as Level II trauma centers based on American College of Surgeons verification if located in a trauma service area with population over 600,000 but density under 225 persons per square mile and at least 15 miles or 20 minutes travel time from nearest verified trauma center.

• Establishes expedited certificate-of-need review process for new construction of community nursing homes in qualifying retirement communities, with maximum approval of 120 beds per request and 240 total beds per community; requires retirement community to be deed-restricted for seniors, located in county with 25% population age 65+, and county nursing home bed rate not exceeding 16.1 per 1,000 seniors.

• Authorizes specialty-licensed children's hospitals with neonatal intensive care units in counties with population of 1,750,000 or more to provide obstetrical services for high-risk pregnancies requiring perinatal intervention, limited to up to 10 labor and delivery beds.

• Requires individual and group insurance policies and health maintenance contracts covering cancer treatment medications to also cover orally administered cancer medications with cost-sharing no less favorable than intravenous or injected medications, effective July 1, 2014; exempts grandfathered health plans and supplemental limited-benefit plans.

• Appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring General Revenue Fund to Department of Health for prescription drug monitoring program administration for fiscal year 2013-2014.