Health facilities: notices.

(1) Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to license, regulate, and inspect health facilities, as specified. Existing law requires a hospital that provides emergency medical services to, as soon as possible, but not later than 90 days prior to a planned reduction or elimination of the level of emergency medical services, provide notice of the intended change to the department, other specified entities, and the public. Existing law also requires a health facility to provide public notice, as specified, not less than 30 days prior to closing the health facility, eliminating a supplemental service, as defined, or relocating the provision of supplemental services to a different campus. This bill would require a hospital that provides emergency medical services to provide notice, as specified, at least 180 days before a planned reduction or elimination of the level of emergency medical services. The bill would require a health facility to provide at least 120 days' notice, as specified, prior to closing the health facility and at least 90 days prior to eliminating or relocating a supplemental service, except as specified. The bill would require the mandatory public notice to include specific notifications, including, among others, a continuous notice posted in a conspicuous location within the internet website of a newspaper of general circulation serving the local geographical area in which the hospital or health facility is located. (2) Under existing law, violation of the provisions relating to health facility licensure is a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.