March 31, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (“HHSC”) issued a Health Facility Licensing Guidance Letter for Texas general and special hospitals related to the emergency rules adopted in response to COVID-19. Texas general and special hospitals are now permitted to use certain off-site locations temporarily to treat and/or house patients. Under this emergency rule, a Texas general or special hospital may provide inpatient care at an off-site facility under the hospital’s existing license. Applicable off-site facilities include, among others, the following types of facilities:
- a mobile, transportable or relocatable unit meeting the requirements of the applicable section of the Texas Administrative Code;
- an ambulatory surgical center licensed under Texas law either currently or within the past 36 months, or a facility with a pending application for such a license that has passed its final architectural review inspection;
- a freestanding emergency medical care facility licensed under Texas law either currently or within the past 36 months, or a facility with a pending application for such a license that has passed its final architectural review inspection; and
- an outpatient facility operated by the hospital, either currently or within the past 36 months.
Hospitals must submit an application to operate an off-site location at one of the allowed facilities and receive approval from HHSC prior to using such facility. HHSC may require an inspection or additional documentation prior to approval and may withdraw approval at any time. The application to operate an off-site location at one of the allowed facilities can be found
here
and should be submitted to
INFOHFLC@hhsc.state.tx.us
.
The full text of the Guidance Letter, which includes the full list of potential off-site facility types, can be found
here
.
