Assigned to HEA                                                                                                               AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1503

 

appropriations; long-term care ombudsman

(NOW: tobacco tax; urgent care services)

                                                                                                                                                            

Purpose

 

Requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to distribute $500,000 in FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the medically needy account primary care services program to primary care programs for primary care and urgent care services during evening and weekend hours.

 

Background

 

Currently, hospital emergency departments around the country are experiencing overcrowding and internal resource limitations.  Staff shortages, facility closures, inappropriate emergency department use and increased use of emergency department facilities all place a strain on hospital emergency departments.  At times, overcrowding and resource limitations have resulted in hospital emergency departments refusing to take patients until a bed is available.  When a hospital emergency department is under diversion, ambulances must take patients to another facility or wait until a bed becomes available, depending upon the seriousness of the illness or injury.

 

According to the Arizona College of Emergency Physicians, two Maricopa County hospitals were on diversion 25 percent of the time last winter and one Tucson hospital is now on diversion 50 percent of the time.  Arizona Administrative Code allows a medical staff committee at a hospital to exceed the hospital’s licensed capacity in emergency situations (A.A.C. R9-10-213).  Hospitals, which exceed licensed capacity in emergency situations, are required to suspend elective admissions until the hospital is below the licensed capacity.  S.B. 1503 attempts to ensure additional primary care and urgent care services are available during evening and weekend hours by requiring DHS to distribute $500,000 in FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the medically needy account primary care services program for primary care and urgent care services during evening and weekend hours.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Requires DHS to distribute $500,000 in FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the existing medically needy account primary care services program to primary care programs for primary care and urgent care services during evening and weekend hours.

 

2.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

 

 

 

 

Amendments Adopted by Health Committee

 

Adopted the strike everything amendment.

 

Senate Action

 

HEA                3/6/01              DPA/SE           7-0-1-0

APPROP         3/9/01              DP                   11-0-1-0

3rd Read           3/20/01                                    29-0-1

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 16, 2001