50-5-103. Rules and standards -- accreditation by joint commission. (1) The department shall promulgate and adopt rules and minimum standards for implementation of parts 1 and 2.
     (2) Any facility covered by this chapter shall comply with the state and federal requirements relating to construction, equipment, and fire and life safety.
     (3) The department shall extend a reasonable time for compliance with rules for parts 1 and 2 upon adoption.
     (4) Any hospital that furnishes written evidence required by the department, including the recommendation for future compliance statements to the department of its accreditation granted by the joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations, is eligible for licensure in the state for the accreditation period and may not be subjected to an inspection by the department for purposes of the licensing process. The department may, in addition to its inspection authority in 50-5-116, inspect any licensed health care facility to answer specific complaints made in writing by any person against the facility when the complaints pertain to licensing requirements. Inspection by the department upon a specific complaint made in writing pertaining to licensing requirements is limited to the specific area or condition of the health care facility to which the complaint pertains.
     (5) The department may consider as eligible for licensure during the accreditation period any health care facility, other than a hospital, that furnishes written evidence, including the recommendation for future compliance statements, of its accreditation by the joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations. The department may inspect a health care facility considered eligible for licensure under this section to ensure compliance with state licensure standards.

     History: En. Sec. 171, Ch. 197, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 366, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 448, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 74, Ch. 349, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 69-5213; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 347, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 432, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 279, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 415, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 366, L. 1995.