Washington § 70.230.020 - Duties of secretary — Rules.

The secretary shall:

(1) Issue a license to any ambulatory surgical facility that:

(a) Submits payment of the fee established in RCW 43.70.110 and 43.70.250;

(b) Submits a completed application that demonstrates the ability to comply with the standards established for operating and maintaining an ambulatory surgical facility in statute and rule. An ambulatory surgical facility shall be deemed to have met the standards if it submits proof of certification as a medicare ambulatory surgical facility or accreditation by an organization that the secretary has determined to have substantially equivalent standards to those of the department; and

(c) Successfully completes the survey requirements established in RCW 70.230.100;

(2) Develop an application form for applicants for a license to operate an ambulatory surgical facility;

(3) Initiate investigations and enforcement actions for complaints or other information regarding failure to comply with this chapter or the standards and rules adopted under this chapter;

(4) Conduct surveys of facilities, including reviews of medical records and documents required to be maintained under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;

(5) By March 1, 2008, determine which accreditation organizations have substantially equivalent standards for purposes of deeming specific licensing requirements required in statute and rule as having met the state's standards; and

(6) Adopt any rules necessary to implement this chapter.