To establish licensing provisions for ambulatory surgical facilities, also know as outpatient facilities. Such facilities would be overseen by the Department of Health. Among other regulations, the bill would establish training and equipment standards, licensing requirements, and grant rule-making authority to the Department of Heath.   Official Text and Analysis.

To specify that Medicare-certified ambulatory surgical facilities are to be deemed to have met licensing requirements. Exemptions for dental offices are removed and replaced with an exemption for outpatient surgical services performed in a practitioner's office in an individual or group practice that do not require general anesthesia. Surveys are required every three years instead of every 18 months. It is specified that a Medicare survey is deemed to have met the state's survey standards. Within 18 months of obtaining a license, an ambulatory surgical facility must submit quality-related data to the Department.

To exempt dentists from the ambulatory surgical facility licensing requirements. Increases the frequency of the submission of quality data by ambulatory surgical facilities to the Department of Health from every three years to every eighteen months. Increases the frequency of the surveys for ambulatory surgical facilities from every three years to every eighteen months. Authorizes ambulatory surgical facilities to substitute every other Department of Health survey with a survey from an approved accrediting organization. Authorizes the Medical Quality Assurance Commission, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery to adopt rules to govern office based surgery. Requires the Department of Health to consult with representatives of ambulatory surgical facilities when establishing fees.

To make licensing requirements optional for ambulatory surgical facilities that have been certified by medicare.

To remove the reference to the dental quality assurance commission. Technical changes are made regarding rules for officebased surgery. The stakeholder group convened by the Department of Health will identify relevant regulatory issues in addition to a reasonable fee schedule.