HB 643 - This act provides that the Department of Health shall inspect home health agencies that have been in operation for at least three years, at least once every three years from the point of the initial inspection. The frequency of inspections shall be determined by such factors as the number of complaints received and changes in management, supervision or ownership.

For those agencies that have been in operation for less than three years the Department shall conduct inspections at least once a year.

However, the license for home health agencies shall be renewed annually.

The Department may accept written surveys or parts of written surveys from any federal or state agency or a professional accrediting agency if such reports are comparable in scope and method to the Department's surveys and are conducted within one year of the initial application or within three years for the renewal of the home health agency's license. This bill is similar to SB 373.
CHERYL GRAZIER