On August 15, 2000, regulations relating to part-time clinics, which the State Hospital Review and Planning Council (SHRPC) voted to adopt on an emergency basis at its August 3, 2000, meeting, became effective. GNYHA provided extensive comments to SHRPC prior to the adoption of the regulations, objecting to the regulations on an emergency basis and several of the provisions.

The regulations prohibit part-time clinics from operating in certain locations (for example, private physicians' offices and adult homes), and require that they be operated in proximity to the sponsoring facility's main site. In addition, the regulations require part-time clinics to have certain policies and procedures in place, including those that address quality assurance and credentialing. The regulations also establish a new application process for current and future operators of part-time clinics that require future operators to submit applications to the NYS Department of Health (DOH) at least 45 days prior to opening a site. All existing operators of part-time clinics must submit applications to DOH by November 13, 2000, in order to continue to provide services at any and all specific part-time clinic locations. After September 11, 2000, the application will be available on the DOH Web site at www.health.state.ny.us; applicants who submit the application electronically must also send a confirmation letter to DOH.

GNYHA will meet with DOH regarding the implementation of the regulations, and is planning to host a member briefing at which DOH representatives will answer members' questions. The regulations will expire on November 13, 2000, unless SHRPC readopts them; they will be on the agenda at the September 21, 2000, SHRPC Codes Committee meeting and the October 5, 2000, full SHRPC meeting. GNYHA plans to comment on the regulations at the Codes Committee meeting. If you would like a copy of the regulations, call Olivia Segree, and if you have any questions, call Doris R. Varlese, both at GNYHA.