Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 111 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH › Chapter 111-2 - HEALTH PLANNING › Subject 111-2-2 - CERTIFICATE OF NEED › Rule 111-2-2-.24 - Specific Review Considerations for Perinatal Services

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1)
Applicability.
For Certificate of Need purposes, Basic Perinatal
				Services, Neonatal Intermediate Care Services (Specialty/Level II), and
				Neonatal Intensive Care Services (Subspecialty/Level III) shall be defined as
				new institutional health services.
(2)
Definitions.
(a) "Basic Perinatal Services (Level I)"
				means providing basic inpatient care for pregnant women and newborns without
				complications; managing perinatal emergencies; consulting with and referring to
				specialty and subspecialty hospitals; identifying high-risk pregnancies;
				providing follow-up care for new mothers and infants; and providing
				public/community education on perinatal health.
(b) "Most recent year" means the most current
				twelve-month period within a month of the date of completion of an application
				or within a month of the date of completion of the first application when
				applications are joined. If the Department has conducted a survey within six
				(6) months of the date of completion of the first application when applications
				are joined, the Department may consider the most recent year to be the report
				period covered by the prior survey.
(c) "Neonatal Intensive Care Service
				(Subspecialty/Level III)" means a hospital service that meets the requirements
				for a Neonatal Newborn Care Service and meets the definition of a Subspecialty
				Perinatal Hospital Service as contained in the most recent edition of the
				Recommended Guidelines for Perinatal Care in Georgia, as published by the
				Council on Maternal & Infant Health.
(d) "Neonatal Intermediate Care Service
				(Specialty/Level II)" means a hospital service that meets the requirements for
				a Neonatal Newborn Care Service and meets the definition of a Specialty
				Perinatal Hospital Service as contained in the most recent edition of the
				Recommended Guidelines for Perinatal Care in Georgia, as published by the
				Council on Maternal & Infant Health.
(e) "Neonatal Newborn Care Service
				(Basic/Level I)" means a hospital service which meets the minimum standards
				contained in Chapter 111-8-40 of the Rules of the Healthcare Facility
				Regulation Division, such chapter being entitled "Newborn Service.
				Amended."
(f) "Obstetric Service"
				means a hospital service that meets the minimum standards contained in Chapter
				111-8-40 of the Rules of the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, such
				chapter being entitled "Maternity and Obstetric Service. Amended."
(g) "Official Inventory" means the inventory
				for each hospital of Basic Perinatal Service and Neonatal Intermediate and
				Intensive Care Service beds maintained by the Department based upon responses
				to the Annual Hospital Questionnaire (AHQ) and/or its Perinatal Addendum and
				any Certificate of Need approved beds after the period covered by the AHQ and
				with the following provisions:
1. the official
				inventory for each facility will remain unchanged for the year following the
				last day of the report period on each hospital's completed AHQ and/or its
				Perinatal Addendum unless the Department approves a change of bed capacity
				through the Certificate of Need process; and
2. the capacity of existing freestanding
				birthing centers will not be counted as part of the official inventory of
				available services when computing unmet numerical need for Basic Perinatal
				Services in a planning area.
(h) "Perinatal physician training program"
				refers to obstetrics and gynecology, family practice and pediatrics
				disciplines.
(i) "Planning Areas"
				means fixed sub-state regions for reviewable services as defined in the State
				Health Component Plan for Perinatal Services.
(j) "Regional Perinatal Center" (RPC) means
				those hospitals designated by the Department of Public Health to serve a
				defined geographic area to provide the highest level of comprehensive perinatal
				health care services for pregnant women, their fetuses and neonates of all risk
				categories. The RPC accepts patients in need of these services from its region
				regardless of race, creed, religion, ability to pay, or funding source. The RPC
				provides consultation and transport for patients requiring special services;
				coordination and assurance of follow-up medical care for maternal and neonatal
				patients requiring special care; educational support to ensure quality care in
				institutions involved in perinatal health care; compilation, analysis, and
				evaluation of perinatal data from the center and referring hospitals and
				coordination of perinatal health care within the region.
(k) "Urban County" means a county with a
				projected population for the horizon year of 100,000 or more and a population
				density for that year of 200 or more people per square mile. All other counties
				are "rural."