With the arrival of 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Health ("DOH") is now authorized to grant "deemed status" for licensure purposes to hospitals that have been accredited by national accreditation organizations, such as The Joint Commission. This past July, Governor Corbett signed Act 60 of 2013 ("Act 60") into law, which amends the Health Care Facilities Act to require DOH to accept hospital surveys and inspections conducted by national accreditation organizations designated as acceptable to DOH in lieu of DOH's regular licensure renewal surveys. In addition, Act 60 extends the term of licensure from two years to three years for all Pennsylvania hospitals.… Continue Reading
On July 17, 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) published its final regulations for assisted living residences (ALRs) operating within the Commonwealth. 40 Pa.B. 4073. The final-form regulations were drafted to fulfill the statutory requirements of Act 56, which was enacted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on July 25, 2007 and amended the statute regulating and licensing personal care homes by creating, defining and providing for the licensing and regulation of ALRs.… Continue Reading
