Hospital licensing rules and accreditation exemptions

(a) All hospitals shall be licensed by the department to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the individuals placed therein. (b) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 that shall provide for the licensing of hospitals. (c) The rules may provide that accreditation by The Joint Commission demonstrates a hospital's compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State. The rules may exempt a hospital from a licensing inspection on a continuing basis throughout the term of the accreditation under the following conditions: (1) The hospital provides the department with a certified copy of the hospital's official accreditation report from The Joint Commission; (2) The hospital continuously holds full accreditation by The Joint Commission; and (3) The hospital holds a current and valid state license. (d) The rules shall provide that the department may conduct inspections and investigations of exempt hospitals to investigate complaints, follow up on adverse accreditation findings, or conduct periodic validation surveys. (e) Information contained in reports of survey and official accreditation letters made by The Joint Commission used in determining compliance with licensing requirements shall be public information. (f) All other records maintained by the department shall be governed by chapter 92F.