(a) Every outpatient setting that is accredited shall be inspected by the accreditation agency and may also be inspected by the Medical Board of California. The Medical Board of California shall ensure that accreditation agencies inspect outpatient settings.

(b) Unless otherwise specified, the following requirements apply to inspections described in subdivision (a).

(1) The frequency of inspection shall depend upon the type and complexity of the outpatient setting to be inspected.

(2) Inspections shall be conducted no less often than once every three years by the accreditation agency and as often as necessary by the Medical Board of California to ensure the quality of care provided. After the initial inspection for accreditation, subsequent inspections may be unannounced. For unannounced routine inspections, the accreditation agency shall notify the outpatient setting that the inspection will occur within 60 days.

(3) The Medical Board of California or the accreditation agency may enter and inspect any outpatient setting that is accredited by an accreditation agency at any reasonable time to ensure compliance with, or investigate an alleged violation of, any standard of the accreditation agency or any provision of this chapter.

(c) If an accreditation agency determines, as a result of its inspection, that an outpatient setting is not in compliance with the standards under which it was approved, the accreditation agency may do any of the following:

(1) Require correction of any identified deficiencies within a set timeframe. Failure to comply shall result in the accrediting agency issuing a reprimand or suspending or revoking the outpatient setting’s accreditation.

(2) Issue a reprimand.

(3) Place the outpatient setting on probation, during which time the setting shall successfully institute and complete a plan of correction, approved by the board or the accreditation agency, to correct the deficiencies.

(4) Suspend or revoke the outpatient setting’s certification of accreditation.

(d) (1) Except as is otherwise provided in this subdivision, before suspending or revoking a certificate of accreditation under this chapter, the accreditation agency shall provide the outpatient setting with notice of any deficiencies and the outpatient setting shall agree with the accreditation agency on a plan of correction that shall give the outpatient setting reasonable time to supply information demonstrating compliance with the standards of the accreditation agency in compliance with this chapter, as well as the opportunity for a hearing on the matter upon the request of the outpatient setting. During the allotted time to correct the deficiencies, the plan of correction, which includes the deficiencies, shall be conspicuously posted by the outpatient setting in a location accessible to public view. Within 10 days after the adoption of the plan of correction, the accrediting agency shall send a list of deficiencies and the corrective action to be taken to the board and to the California State Board of Pharmacy if an outpatient setting is licensed pursuant to Article 14 (commencing with Section 4190) of Chapter 9 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code. The accreditation agency may immediately suspend the certificate of accreditation before providing notice and an opportunity to be heard, but only when failure to take the action may result in imminent danger to the health of an individual. In such cases, the accreditation agency shall provide subsequent notice and an opportunity to be heard.

(2) If an outpatient setting does not comply with a corrective action within a timeframe specified by the accrediting agency, the accrediting agency shall issue a reprimand, and may either place the outpatient setting on probation or suspend or revoke the accreditation of the outpatient setting, and shall notify the board of its action. This section shall not be deemed to prohibit an outpatient setting that is unable to correct the deficiencies, as specified in the plan of correction, for reasons beyond its control, from voluntarily surrendering its accreditation prior to initiation of any suspension or revocation proceeding.

(e) The accreditation agency shall, within 24 hours, report to the board if the outpatient setting has been issued a reprimand or if the outpatient setting’s certification of accreditation has been suspended or revoked or if the outpatient setting has been placed on probation. If an outpatient setting has been issued a license by the California State Board of Pharmacy pursuant to Article 14 (commencing with Section 4190) of Chapter 9 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, the accreditation agency shall also send this report to the California State Board of Pharmacy within 24 hours.

(f) The accreditation agency, upon receipt of a complaint from the board that an outpatient setting poses an immediate risk to public safety, shall inspect the outpatient setting and report its findings of inspection to the board within five business days. If an accreditation agency receives any other complaint from the board, it shall investigate the outpatient setting and report its findings of investigation to the board within 30 days.

(g) Reports on the results of any inspection shall be kept on file with the board and the accreditation agency along with the plan of correction and the comments of the outpatient setting. The inspection report may include a recommendation for reinspection. All final inspection reports, which include the lists of deficiencies, plans of correction or requirements for improvements and correction, and corrective action completed, shall be public records open to public inspection.

(h) If one accrediting agency denies accreditation, or revokes or suspends the accreditation of an outpatient setting, this action shall apply to all other accrediting agencies. An outpatient setting that is denied accreditation is permitted to reapply for accreditation with the same accrediting agency. The outpatient setting also may apply for accreditation from another accrediting agency, but only if it discloses the full accreditation report of the accrediting agency that denied accreditation. Any outpatient setting that has been denied accreditation shall disclose the accreditation report to any other accrediting agency to which it submits an application. The new accrediting agency shall ensure that all deficiencies have been corrected and conduct a new onsite inspection consistent with the standards specified in this chapter.

(i) If an outpatient setting’s certification of accreditation has been suspended or revoked, or if the accreditation has been denied, the accreditation agency shall do all of the following:

(1) Notify the board of the action.

(2) Send a notification letter to the outpatient setting of the action. The notification letter shall state that the setting is no longer allowed to perform procedures that require outpatient setting accreditation.

(3) Require the outpatient setting to remove its accreditation certification and to post the notification letter in a conspicuous location, accessible to public view.

(j) The board may take any appropriate action it deems necessary pursuant to Section 1248.7 if an outpatient setting’s certification of accreditation has been suspended or revoked, or if accreditation has been denied.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 287, Sec. 4. (SB 396) Effective January 1, 2016.)