Outpatient settings: surgical clinics.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of clinics by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of those provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law provides that certain types of specialty clinics, including surgical clinics, as defined, are eligible for licensure. This bill would clarify that surgical clinics are eligible for licensure by the department regardless of physician or dentist ownership. The Medical Practice Act provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California. Existing law provides that it is unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to perform procedures in any outpatient setting except in compliance with specified provisions. Existing law prohibits an association, corporation, firm, partnership, or person from operating, managing, conducting, or maintaining an outpatient setting in the state unless the setting is one of the specified settings, which includes, among others, a surgical clinic licensed by the State Department of Public Health or an outpatient setting accredited by an accreditation agency approved by the Division of Licensing of the Medical Board of California. Existing law provides that an outpatient setting that is accredited shall be inspected by the accreditation agency and may be inspected by the Medical Board of California. Existing law requires that the inspections be conducted no less often than once every 3 years by the accreditation agency and as often as necessary by the Medical Board of California to ensure quality of care provided. Existing law requires that certificates for accreditation issued to outpatient settings by an accreditation agency shall be valid for not more than 3 years. This bill would require that all subsequent inspections after the initial inspection for accreditation be unannounced. This bill would require an outpatient setting accredited by the division to pay certain fees and to comply with certain data submission requirements. The bill would also instead require that initial certificates of accreditation by an accreditation agency be valid for not more than 2 years and that renewal certificates be valid for not more than 3 years.