(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department shall issue a license to a hospice that applies to the department for a hospice license and meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Is accredited as a hospice by an entity approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a national accreditation organization, and the national accreditation organization forwards to the department copies of all initial and subsequent survey and other accreditation reports or findings.

(2) Files an application with fees pursuant to this chapter.

(3) Meets any other additional licensure requirements of, or regulations adopted if necessary pursuant to, this chapter that the department identifies, after consulting with the national accreditation organization, as more stringent than the accreditation requirements of the national accreditation organization.

(b) The department may conduct a survey of an accredited hospice to ensure the accreditation requirements are met. These surveys shall be conducted using a selective sample basis.

(c) The department may conduct a survey of an accredited hospice to investigate complaints against an accredited hospice for substantial noncompliance, as determined by the department, with these accreditation standards.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), the department shall retain its full range of authority over accredited hospices to ensure the licensure and accreditation requirements are met. This authority shall include the entire scope of enforcement sanctions and options available for unaccredited hospices.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 424, Sec. 3. (SB 1495) Effective January 1, 2019.)