Section 1110.290  Discontinuation – Review Criteria

These criteria pertain to the discontinuation of categories of service and health care facilities.

a)         Information Requirements − Review Criterion

The applicant shall provide at least the following information:

1)         Identification of the categories of service and the number of beds, if any, that are to be discontinued;

2)         Identification of all other clinical services that are to be discontinued;

3)         The anticipated date of discontinuation for each identified service or for the entire facility;

4)         The anticipated use of the physical plant and equipment after discontinuation occurs;

5)         The anticipated disposition and location of all medical records pertaining to the services being discontinued and the length of time the records will be retained;

6)         For applications involving discontinuation of an entire facility, certification by an authorized representative that all questionnaires and data required by HFSRB or the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) (e.g., annual questionnaires, capital expenditures surveys, etc.) will be provided through the date of discontinuation and that the required information will be submitted no later than 60 days following the date of discontinuation.

b)         Reasons for Discontinuation − Review Criterion

The applicant shall document that the discontinuation is justified by providing data that verifies that one or more of the following factors (and other factors, as applicable) exist with respect to each service being discontinued:

1)         Insufficient volume or demand for the service;

2)         Lack of sufficient staff to adequately provide the service;

3)         The facility or the service is not economically feasible, and continuation impairs the facility's financial viability;

4)         The facility or the service is not in compliance with licensing or certification standards.

c)         Impact on Access − Review Criterion

The applicant shall document whether the discontinuation of each service or of the entire facility will have an adverse impact upon access to care for residents of the facility's market area.  The facility's market area, for purposes of this Section, is the established radii outlined in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.510(d). Factors that indicate an adverse impact upon access to service for the population of the facility's market area include, but are not limited to, the following:

1)         The service will no longer exist within the established radii outlined in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.510(d) of the applicant facility;

2)         Discontinuation of the service will result in creating or increasing a shortage of beds or services, as calculated in the Inventory of Health Care Facilities, which is described in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.70 and found on HFSRB's website;

3)         Facilities or a shortage of other categories of service at determined by the provisions of 77 Ill. Adm. Code 1100 or other Sections of this Part.

d)         The applicant shall provide copies of notification letters sent to other resources or health care facilities that provide the same services as those proposed for discontinuation and that are located within the established radii outlined in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.510(d). The notification letter must include at least the anticipated date of discontinuation of the service and the total number of patients that received care or the number of treatments provided (as applicable) during the latest 24 month period.