A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize an annual license fee for hospices; to require inspections of hospices every three years; and to appropriate funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to support two full‑time positions to survey all licensed hospice providers every three years.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 131E‑202 reads as rewritten:
"§ 131E‑202.  Licensing.
(a)	The Commission shall adopt rules for the licensing and regulation of hospices, hospice inpatient facilities, and hospice residential care facilities pursuant to this Article for the purpose of providing care, treatment, health, safety, welfare, and comfort of hospice patients. These rules shall include, but not be limited to:
(1)	The qualifications and supervision of licensed and nonlicensed personnel;
(2)	The provision and coordination of home and inpatient care, including the development of a written care plan;
(3)	The management, operation, staffing, and equipping of the hospice program;
(4)	Clinical and business records kept by the hospice, hospice inpatient care facility, and hospice residential care facility; and
(5)	Procedures for the review of utilization and quality of care.
(b)	The Department shall provide applications for hospice licensure. Each application filed with the Department shall contain all information requested therein. A license shall be granted to the applicant upon determination by the Department that the applicant has complied with the provisions of this Article and with the rules adopted by the Commission thereunder. Each license shall be issued only for the premises and persons named therein, shall not be transferable or assignable except with the written approval of the Department, and shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises.
(c)	The Department shall renew the license in accordance with this Article and with rules adopted thereunder and shall charge the applicant a nonrefundable annual license fee in the amount of three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00)."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 131E‑204 reads as rewritten:
"§ 131E‑204.  Inspections.
The Department shall inspect all hospices that are subject to rules adopted pursuant to this Article in order to determine compliance with the provisions of this Article and with rules adopted thereunder. Inspections shall be conducted at a minimum of every three years in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission."
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Facility Services, the sum of forty‑two thousand five hundred dollars ($42,500) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of forty‑two thousand five hundred dollars ($42,500) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to support two full‑time equivalent positions to survey all licensed hospice providers every three years.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.