FL S0232

Requires ambulatory surgical centers to provide services to Medicare, Medicaid, and charity care patients in amounts equal to or greater than the district average for similar providers as a condition of initial licensure and renewal.

Defines "charity care" as uncompensated care delivered to uninsured patients with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level when preauthorized and not subject to collection procedures.

Requires ambulatory surgical centers to report the same data as hospitals and mandates compliance with hospital building and lifesafety codes if patients are not discharged until after midnight on the day of their procedure.

Modifies rural hospital certificate of need exemptions to apply to any operator of rural hospitals (not just not-for-profit operators) and changes the population density requirement from 30 to fewer than 100 persons per square mile.

Changes the distance requirement for replacement rural hospitals from 10 miles to 15 miles from currently licensed hospitals in adjacent counties and removes the primary service area requirement.