Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §330, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 664, §2, is amended to read:

6. Existing capacity. The use by an ambulatory surgical facility licensed on January 1, 1998 of capacity in existence on January 1, 1998; and

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §330, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2003, c. 621, §1, is further amended to read:

7. Critical access hospitals. Conversion by a critical access hospital or a hospital in the process of becoming a critical access hospital of licensed acute care beds to hospital swing beds.; and

Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §330, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

8.__Hospitals.__Conversion by a hospital of up to 10 acute care beds to hospital swing beds.

SUMMARY

This bill allows a hospital to convert up to 10 acute care beds to hospital swing beds without being required to submit a certificate of need.