The Office of Certificate of Need and Healthcare Facility Licensure of the Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing in the Senior Services and Health Systems Branch of the Department of Health and Senior Services (Department) is proposing to readopt with amendments N.J.A.C. 8:33C, Certificate of Need and Acute Care Licensure: Regionalized Perinatal Services and Maternal and Child Health Consortia (MCHC).  The notice of proposal appears in the March 19, 2007 issue of the New Jersey Register.

N.J.A.C. 8:33C establishes the certificate of need and licensure requirements for all MCHCs and MCHC members that provide perinatal services.  N.J.A.C. 8:33C also sets forth the perinatal designation criteria for MCHC members that provide perinatal services.  The establishment of minimum requirements at N.J.A.C. 8:33C has resulted in and would continue to achieve provision of enhanced, accessible maternal and child health services in a coordinated, cooperative, and prevention-oriented manner.

          The Department is proposing to amend the chapter title to change the words “Acute Care” to “Healthcare Facility” in order to reflect the new name of the Department’s licensing program.  The Department also proposes to amend the definition of “regional perinatal and pediatric plan” at N.J.A.C. 8:33C-1.2, to require that the MCHC develop a five-year plan rather than a three-year plan.  Consequently, the Department proposes to amend the timeframe for the projections in the regional and pediatric plan at N.J.A.C. 8:33C-2.7(a) and N.J.A.C. 8:33C-5.1(a), to require a five-year plan rather than a three-year plan.  In addition, the Department proposes to amend the methodology for the projection of intermediate and intensive care bassinets at N.J.A.C. 8:33C-2.8(a) to add the explanation of factors “d,” “l,” and “m” which were inadvertently omitted from prior publication of the rule.  Factors “d” and “l” refer to the statewide average length of stay for the various types of patients described in the rule.  Factor “m” refers to the regional number of live births equal to or greater than 2500 grams with a significant operating room procedure without multiple major problems, or multiple major problems without a significant operating room procedure.

          The public has until May 18, 2007 to comment on the notice of proposal.  Persons wishing to comment on the proposal must submit their comments in writing to John A. Calabria, Director, Office of Certificate of Need and Healthcare Facility Licensure, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 358, Trenton, NJ 08625-0358.  Written comments on the proposal must be postmarked on or before May 18, 2007, which is the close of the 60-day public comment period. 

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