Ambulatory Surgical Facilities Rules

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, Periodic Review and Expiration of Existing Rules, all rules are reviewed at least every 10 years or they shall expire. As a result of the periodic review of subchapter 10A NCAC 13C, Licensing of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities, 5 of these 10 proposed rules were part of the nine rules that were determined as "Necessary With Substantive Public Interest," requiring readoption. In addition, 3 of these 10 rules are proposed for amendment and two rules are proposed for repeal. Of these 10 proposed rules, three rules, 10A NCAC 13C .1401-.1403, are being amended to adopt the guidelines of the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) for ambulatory surgical center facilities so that licensed ambulatory surgical centers in N.C. will be designed and constructed in compliance with a national standard of practice. Following the national standards will benefit the quality of physical plant safety provided to citizens of N.C. in these facilities. Proposed rule 10A NCAC 13C .1404 is being readopted with substantive changes for granting equivalencies to requirement alternate design and functional variations and to clarify regulatory conflict. The four revised proposed rules contain all the necessary construction requirements for these licensed ambulatory surgical care facilities. Therefore, rules 10A NCAC 13C .1405 - .1407 and .1410 are proposed for readoption as a repeal and rules 10A NCAC 13C .1408 and .1409 are proposed for repeal as they are no longer needed.