(a) A person, governmental agency, or political subdivision of the state shall not be licensed as a hospice facility under this chapter unless the person or entity is a provider of hospice services licensed pursuant to Section 1751 and is certified as a hospice facility under Part 418 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) A hospice provider that intends to provide inpatient hospice care in the hospice provider’s own facility shall submit an application and fee for licensure as a hospice facility under this chapter. Notwithstanding the maximum period for a provisional license under subdivision (b) of Section 1268.5, the department may issue a provisional license to a hospice facility for a period of up to one year.

(c) A verified application for a new license completed on forms furnished by the department shall be submitted to the department upon the occurrence of either of the following:

(1) Establishment of a hospice facility.

(2) Change of ownership.

(d) The licensee shall submit to the department a verified application for a corrected license completed on forms furnished by the department upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) Construction of new or replacement hospice facility.

(2) Increase in licensed bed capacity.

(3) Change of name of facility.

(4) Change of licensed category.

(5) Change of location of facility.

(6) Change in bed classification.

(e) (1) A hospice facility that participates in the Medicare and Medicaid programs may obtain initial certification from a federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved accreditation organization.

(2) If the CMS-approved accreditation organization conducts certification inspections, the hospice facility shall transmit to the department, within 30 days of receipt, a copy of the final accreditation report of the accreditation organization.

(f) A hospice facility shall be separately licensed, irrespective of the location of the facility.

(g) (1) The licensee shall notify the department in writing of any changes in the information provided pursuant to subdivision (d) within 10 days of these changes. This notice shall include information and documentation regarding the changes.

(2) Each licensee shall notify the department within 10 days in writing of any change of the mailing address of the licensee. This notice shall include the new mailing address of the licensee.

(3) When a change in the principal officer of a corporate licensee, including the chairman, president, or general manager occurs, the licensee shall notify the department of this change within 10 days in writing. This notice shall include the name and business address of the officer.

(4) Any decrease in licensed bed capacity of the facility shall require notification by letter to the department and shall result in the issuance of a corrected license.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 76, Sec. 107. (AB 383) Effective January 1, 2014.)