Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 19, March 20, 2024
Categorization and verification of hospitals participating in
Iowa's regionalized system of perinatal health care shall be made by the
department based on national recommendations from the American Academy of
Pediatrics and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
(1)
Application for initial
verification.
a. An application for
initial verification may be submitted when:
(1) A new hospital with a perinatal service
is opened;
(2) A hospital is
reopening a previously inactive obstetrical unit; or
(3) A hospital requests a change to a
higher-level designation in maternal care or neonatal care.
b. A hospital requesting an
initial verification may obtain application materials from the department upon
written request to:
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Family Health
Regionalized System of Perinatal Health Care Coordinator
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
c. Upon receipt of an application from a
hospital that is requesting to change to a higher level of maternal or neonatal
care, the department will request and review copies of the results of the last
site visit to the hospital by the statewide perinatal team or request a site
visit. The results of the site visit along with the application will be shared
with the statewide perinatal team and the perinatal guidelines advisory
committee to determine if all requirements are met. The committee
recommendations will be sent to the department, which will notify the hospital
if its application is approved or denied. If the application is denied, the
applicant will be informed of the applicant's right to appeal the department's
decision.
(2)
Application for a hospital that has previously participated in the
regionalized system of perinatal health care.
a. If a hospital chooses to continue its
participation, the hospital must select the levels for maternal care and
neonatal care appropriate for the hospital's capacity to provide perinatal
health care in accordance with the criteria outlined in these rules.
b. To maintain continuous participation in
the regionalized system of perinatal health care, a hospital shall complete the
levels-of-care assessment tool and an attestation statement available at
idph.iowa.gov/perinatal-care and mail them by April
11, 2019, to:
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Family Health
Regionalized System of Perinatal Health Care Coordinator
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
c. The department shall set dates when each
hospital's certification of verification will expire based on the statewide
perinatal health care team's site visit schedule and the level of care
selected.
(3)
Reverification of level designation. The levels-of-care
assessment tool will be used for all reverifications. The tool is found at
idph.iowa.gov/perinatal-care. The process of
reverification of a hospital participating in the regionalized system of
perinatal health care will take place once every three years as follows:
a. Reverification of a Level I maternal care
or neonatal care hospital will be completed through the use of the
levels-of-care assessment tool. A hospital shall complete and return the
levels-of-care assessment tool to the department at least 60 days before the
hospital's certification is due to expire.
b. Reverification of a Level II or Level III
maternal care or neonatal care hospital will be completed through use of the
levels-of-care assessment tool and an on-site reverification visit. A hospital
shall complete and return the levels-of-care assessment tool to the department
at least 120 days before the hospital's certification is due to expire. The
department will ensure that arrangements are made for the on-site
reverification visit. Level II and Level III hospitals may utilize one of two
on-site reverification visit options:
(1) A
review conducted by the statewide perinatal care team, or
(2) A review by an independent out-of-state
team identified by the hospital, approved by the department and paid for by the
hospital.
c.
Reverification of a Level IV maternal care and neonatal care hospital will be
completed through the same process as that for a Level II or Level III maternal
care or neonatal care hospital except that the on-site reverification team will
consist of an out-of-state team identified by the hospital and approved by the
department. The team will include, at a minimum, a maternal-fetal specialist, a
neonatologist, an obstetrical nurse and a neonatal nurse. The Level IV hospital
will pay the expense of the review team. All department staff and staff
contracted by the department involved in the on-site reverification process
will sign a confidentiality statement that will be kept on file at the
department.
d. Reverification shall
not be construed to imply any guarantee on the part of the department as to the
level of perinatal health care services available at a hospital.
e. Hospital reverification of the level of
care is valid for a period of three years from the effective date unless
otherwise specified on the certificate of verification or unless sooner
suspended or revoked.
f. As part of
the reverification and renewal process, the department or a designated survey
team may conduct periodic on-site reviews of the services of the maternal care
and neonatal care hospitals, including chart reviews.
(4)
Level designation maintenance,
waiver and confidential records.
a.
A hospital which is unable to maintain its designated level of care shall
notify the department, in writing, within 60 days of the change in capacity to
meet the designated level of care.
b. The director may grant a waiver from the
requirements of rules adopted under this chapter for any hospital participating
in the regionalized system of perinatal health care.
c. Proceedings, records, and reports
developed pursuant to this chapter are confidential pursuant to Iowa Code
section
135.11(27)
and constitute peer review records under
Iowa Code section
147.135,
and are not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion
for their release to a person other than the affected hospital, and are not
admissible in evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding other than a
proceeding involving verification of the participating hospital.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section
135.11(27).
