Title 70 — Title 70 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

(1) The legislature declares that availability of health services to rural citizens is an issue on which a state policy is needed.The legislature finds that changes in the demand for health care, in reimbursement polices [policies] of public and private purchasers, [and] in the e…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Administrative structure" means a system of contracts or formal agreements between organizations and persons providing health services in an area that establishes the…

(1) The department shall establish the Washington rural health system project to provide financial and technical assistance to participants. The goal of the project is to help assure access to affordable health care services to citizens in the rural areas of Washington state.(2) …

The department shall adopt rules consistent with this chapter to carry out the purpose of this chapter. All rules shall be adopted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. All rules and procedures adopted by the department shall minimize paperwork and compliance requirements for par…

The secretary shall have the following powers and duties:(1) To design the project application and selection process, including a program to advertise the project to rural communities and encourage prospective applicants to apply. Project sites that receive seed grant funding may…

The duties and responsibilities of participating communities shall include:(1) To involve major health care providers, businesses, public officials, and other community leaders in project design, administration, and oversight;(2) To identify an individual or organization to serve…

(1) The secretary may call upon other agencies of the state to provide available information to assist the secretary in meeting the responsibilities under this chapter. This information shall be supplied as promptly as circumstances permit.(2) The secretary may call upon other st…

In addition to the powers and duties specified in RCW 70.175.050 the secretary has the power to enter into contracts for the following functions and services:(1) With public or private agencies, to assist the secretary in the secretary's duties to design or revise the health stat…

(1) Participants are authorized to use funding granted to them by the secretary for the purpose of contracting for technical assistance services. Participants shall use only consultants identified by the secretary for consulting services unless the participant can show that an al…

(1) The department shall establish and adopt such standards and rules pertaining to the construction, maintenance, and operation of a rural health care facility and the scope of health care services, and rescind, amend, or modify the rules from time to time as necessary in the pu…

In developing the rural health care facility licensure regulations, the department shall:(1) Minimize regulatory requirements to permit local flexibility and innovation in providing services;(2) Promote the cost-efficient delivery of health care and other social services as is ap…

The rural health care facility is not considered a hospital for building occupancy purposes.[ 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 712.]

The department may develop and implement a rural health care plan and may approve hospital and rural health care facility requests to be designated as essential access community hospitals or rural primary care hospitals so that such facilities may form rural health networks to pr…

Any licensee or applicant desiring to make alterations or additions to its facilities or to construct new facilities may contact the department for consultative advice before commencing such alteration, addition, or new construction.[ 1992 c 27 s 5.]