MN HF1679

Hospitals must meet applicable provisions of the 2022 edition of the Facility Guidelines Institute Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals as minimum standards for new licenses, new construction, change of use, or change of occupancy.

Commissioner of health must notify legislative committees by January 15 when updating the guidelines edition, with new editions becoming effective August 1 and allowing at least 6 months for facility compliance after State Register publication.

Repeals 78 detailed Minnesota Rules parts (4640 and 4645 series) that previously specified hospital physical environment requirements such as room sizes, equipment, ventilation, and safety standards.

Hospital variance and waiver requests from design standards must reference the 2022 FGI Guidelines instead of the former detailed rule parts, with same evaluation criteria regarding patient safety and undue burden on applicants.

All changes effective August 1, 2023, consolidating hospital design and construction standards under one modern guidelines document rather than multiple outdated rule parts.