LAC 48:I.9505. General Provisions for Hospitals Licensed as of January 1, 2022

A. Sections 9505-9509 shall be effective immediately upon publication of these provisions for existing hospitals licensed as of July 1, 2022, and shall remain in effect through November 30, 2023. Such hospitals must be in compliance with Sections 9511-9517 beginning December 1, 2023. 1. The level of care of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is not required to match or exceed the level of obstetrical care for each level of obstetrical service. 2. For facilities that change the level of care and services of the facility’s NICU unit, either decreasing or increasing the level provided, the facility shall submit an attestation of this change to the department’s Health Standards Section (HSS) in writing and on the appropriate state neonatal services Medicaid attestation form. Such notice shall be submitted to the HSS within 90 days of the facility’s change in NICU level provided. For facilities that change the level of care and services of a facility’s obstetrical unit, by either decreasing or increasing the level provided, the facility shall submit written notice of this change to HSS within 90 days of such change. B. For purposes of this Subchapter, hospital privileges are such privileges that are unrestricted and approved by the medical staff committee and the governing body that allows the practitioner to perform all duties within their scope of practice and certification(s) at the hospital in which the privileges are granted and such duties are performed. 1. The requirements for privileges, such as active privileges, inpatient privileges or full privileges, shall be defined in hospital policy and approved by each hospital’s governing body. C. For purposes of this Subchapter, the requirements for hospital staff and/or equipment as being immediately or readily available shall be defined by hospital policy and approved by each hospital’s governing body. D. Any transfer agreements shall be in writing and approved by the hospital medical staff and by each hospital’s governing body. Transfer agreements shall be reviewed at least annually and revised as needed. E. For those hospitals providing transports, the qualifications of the transport team shall be in writing, defined by hospital policy and approved by each hospital’s governing body. Such qualifications shall be reviewed at least annually and revised as needed. F. The hospital shall have data collection and retrieval capabilities in use, and shall cooperate and report the requested data to the appropriate supervisory agencies to review.