ARTICLE 10.6. Hospice Licensing [1339.40. - 1339.44.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 10.6.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1339.40. Section 1339.40.

For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a) “Bereavement services” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1746. (b) “Hospice care” means a specialized form of interdisciplinary health care that is designed to provide palliative care, alleviate the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual discomforts of an individual who is experiencing the last phases of life due to the existence of a terminal disease, and provide supportive care to the primary caregiver and the family of the hospice patient, and that meets all of the following criteria: (1) Considers the patient and the patient’s family, in addition to the patient, as the unit of care. (2) Utilizes an interdisciplinary team to assess the physical, medical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of the patient and the patient’s family. (3) Requires the interdisciplinary team to develop an overall plan of care and to provide coordinated care that emphasizes supportive services, including, but not limited to, home care, pain control, and limited inpatient services. Limited inpatient services are intended to ensure both continuity of care and appropriateness of services for those patients who cannot be managed at home because of acute complications or the temporary absence of a capable primary caregiver. (4) Provides for the palliative medical treatment of pain and other symptoms associated with a terminal disease, but does not provide for efforts to cure the disease. (5) Provides for bereavement services following death to assist the family in coping with social and emotional needs associated with the death of the patient. (6) Actively utilizes volunteers in the delivery of hospice services. (7) To the extent appropriate, based on the medical needs of the patient, provides services in the patient’s home or primary place of residence. (c) “Hospice facility” means a health facility as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 1250. (d) “Inpatient hospice care” means hospice care that is provided to patients in a hospice facility, including routine, continuous and inpatient care directly as specified in Section 418.110 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and may include short-term inpatient respite care as specified in Section 418.108 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (e) “Interdisciplinary team” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 1746. (f) “Medical direction” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 1746. (g) “Palliative care” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 1746. (h) “Plan of care” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 1746. (i) “Skilled nursing services” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 1746. (j) “Social services/counseling services” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (o) of Section 1746. (k) “Terminal disease” or “terminal illness” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (p) of Section 1746. (l) “Volunteer services” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (q) of Section 1746.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1339.41. Section 1339.41.

(a) A person, governmental agency, or political subdivision of the state shall not be licensed as a hospice facility under this chapter unless the person or entity is a provider of hospice services licensed pursuant to Section 1751 and is certified as a hospice facility under Part 418 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) A hospice provider that intends to provide inpatient hospice care in the hospice provider’s own facility shall submit an application and fee for licensure as a hospice facility under this chapter. Notwithstanding the maximum period for a provisional license under subdivision (b) of Section 1268.5, the department may issue a provisional license to a hospice facility for a period of up to one year. (c) A verified application for a new license completed on forms furnished by the department shall be submitted to the department upon the occurrence of either of the following: (1) Establishment of a hospice facility. (2) Change of ownership. (d) The licensee shall submit to the department a verified application for a corrected license completed on forms furnished by the department upon the occurrence of any of the following: (1) Construction of new or replacement hospice facility. (2) Increase in licensed bed capacity. (3) Change of name of facility. (4) Change of licensed category. (5) Change of location of facility. (6) Change in bed classification. (e) (1) A hospice facility that participates in the Medicare and Medicaid programs may obtain initial certification from a federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved accreditation organization. (2) If the CMS-approved accreditation organization conducts certification inspections, the hospice facility shall transmit to the department, within 30 days of receipt, a copy of the final accreditation report of the accreditation organization. (f) A hospice facility shall be separately licensed, irrespective of the location of the facility. (g) (1) The licensee shall notify the department in writing of any changes in the information provided pursuant to subdivision (d) within 10 days of these changes. This notice shall include information and documentation regarding the changes. (2) Each licensee shall notify the department within 10 days in writing of any change of the mailing address of the licensee. This notice shall include the new mailing address of the licensee. (3) When a change in the principal officer of a corporate licensee, including the chairman, president, or general manager occurs, the licensee shall notify the department of this change within 10 days in writing. This notice shall include the name and business address of the officer. (4) Any decrease in licensed bed capacity of the facility shall require notification by letter to the department and shall result in the issuance of a corrected license.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1339.42. Section 1339.42.

(a) No private or public organization, including, but not limited to, any partnership, corporation, or political subdivision of the state, or other governmental agency within the state, shall do any of the following without a license issued pursuant to this chapter: (1) Represent itself to be a hospice facility by its name or advertisement, soliciting, or any other presentments to the public, or in the context of services within the scope of this chapter imply that it is licensed to provide those services or to make any reference to employee bonding in relation to those services. (2) Use the words “hospice facility,“ “hospice home,” “hospice-facility,” or any combination of those terms, within its name. (3) Use words to imply that it is licensed as a hospice facility to provide those services. (b) A hospice facility licensee shall obtain criminal background checks for its employees, volunteers, and contractors in accordance with federal Medicare conditions of participation (42 C.F.R. Part 418 et seq.) and as may be required in accordance with state law. The hospice facility licensee shall pay the costs of obtaining a criminal background check.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1339.43. Section 1339.43.

(a) A hospice facility shall provide a home-like environment that is comfortable and accommodating to both the patient and patient’s visitors. (b) Building standards for hospice facilities adopted pursuant to this chapter relating to fire and panic safety, and other regulations for hospice facilities adopted pursuant to this chapter, shall apply uniformly throughout the state. No city, county, city and county, including a charter city or charter county, or fire protection district shall adopt or enforce any ordinance or local rule or regulation relating to fire and panic safety in buildings or structures subject to this section that is inconsistent with the rules and regulations for hospice facilities adopted pursuant to this chapter. (c) The hospice facility shall meet the fire protection standards set forth in the federal Medicare conditions of participation (42 C.F.R. Part 418 et seq.). (d) A hospice facility may operate as a freestanding health facility. (1) Until the Office of the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, develops and adopts building standards for hospice facilities, a freestanding hospice facility shall meet applicable building standards and requirements relating to the physical environment of the facility as specified in Section 418.110 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The building standards developed shall, at a minimum, maintain the requirements specified in that section. (2) A freestanding hospice facility shall be under the jurisdiction of the local building department. As part of the license application, the prospective licensee shall submit evidence of compliance with applicable building standards for hospice facilities. (3) The physical environment of the hospice facility shall be adequate to provide the level of care and service required by the residents of the facility as determined by the department. (e) A hospice facility may be located within the physical plant of another health facility. (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (d) and paragraphs (8) and (9) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725, a hospice facility located within the physical plant of another licensed health facility that is under the jurisdiction of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, shall meet the building standards for that category of health facility within which the hospice facility is located, and plans shall be submitted to the office for review of any new construction or renovation of these hospice facilities. As part of the license application, the prospective licensee shall submit evidence of compliance with the building codes enforced by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. (2) The physical environment of the facility shall be adequate to provide the level of care and service required by the residents of the facility as determined by the department. (3) In the event the space used by the hospice facility reverts back to the facility with which the hospice facility shared the space, the building standards applicable to the former shared space, as identified by date of enactment of the standards, shall not change due solely to the reversion. (4) A hospice facility that provides inpatient hospice care and is located within, adjacent to or physically connected to another health facility shall provide all of the following: (A) A designated nursing station. (B) Adequate space for the preparation of drugs with lockable, secure storage that is accessible only by authorized personnel. (C) Signage that shall clearly demarcate the hospice facility area from the facility with which the hospice facility shares space. (D) Doors for every exit and entrance to the hospice facility. (E) Contiguous beds within the designated area set aside for the hospice facility. (f) If a freestanding hospice facility is located on the site of or is physically connected to a health facility that is under the jurisdiction of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development or both, the hospice facility shall submit plans for any new construction or renovation of the hospice facility to the office for plan review and approval. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development shall review the hospice facility plans to identify any impacts to the health facility under the office’s jurisdiction that may compromise the health facility’s continued compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1339.44. Section 1339.44.

(a) A hospice facility shall provide, or make provision for, all of the following services and requirements: (1) (A) Medical direction and adequate staff. Minimum staffing standards that require at least one registered nurse to be on duty 24 hours per day and a maximum of six patients assigned at any given time per direct caregiver. (B) For purposes of this section, any additional direct caregiver necessary beyond the registered nurse required pursuant to paragraph (1) may include a registered nurse, as described in Section 2732 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed vocational nurse, as described in Section 2864 of the Business and Professions Code, and a certified nurse assistant. (2) Skilled nursing services. (3) Palliative care. (4) Social services and counseling services. (5) Bereavement services. (6) Volunteer services. (7) Dietary services. (8) Pharmaceutical services. (9) Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy. (10) Patient rights. (11) Disaster preparedness. Disaster preparedness plans for both internal and external disasters shall protect hospice patients, employees, and visitors, and reflect coordination with local agencies that are responsible for disaster preparedness and emergency response. (12) An adequate, safe, and sanitary physical environment. (13) Housekeeping services. (14) Patient medical records. (15) Other administrative requirements. (b) The department may adopt regulations that establish standards for the provision of the services in subdivision (a) and any additional qualifications and requirements for licensure above the requirements of this article. (c) A hospice patient has a right to be informed of his or her rights, and the hospice facility shall protect and promote the exercise of these rights. The hospice facility shall comply with the patients’ rights regulation in Section 418.52 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations unless the department adopts regulations establishing alternative standards pursuant to Section 1250.1. In addition, the hospice facility shall provide each patient with all of the following: (1) Information at admission to a hospice facility pursuant to Chapter 3.9 (commencing with Section 1599). (2) Full information regarding his or her health status and options for end-of-life care. (3) Care that reflects individual preferences regarding end-of-life care, including the right to refuse any treatment or procedure. (4) Treatment with consideration, respect, and full recognition of dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and care of personal needs. (5) Right to visitors of the patient’s choosing, at any time the patient chooses, and privacy for those visits. (d) The hospice facility shall continue to provide services to family and friends after the patient’s stay in the hospice facility in accordance with the patient’s plan of care. These services may be provided by the hospice services program that operates the hospice facility. (e) The hospice facility shall demonstrate the ability to meet licensing requirements and shall be fully responsible for meeting all licensing requirements, regardless of whether those requirements are met through direct provision by the facility or under contract with another entity. The hospice facility’s reliance on contractors to meet the licensing requirements does not exempt the hospice facility from any requirements or in any way alter the hospice facility’s responsibilities. When a health facility provides services under contract to a hospice facility, nothing shall preclude the department from holding the health facility responsible for violations of the law, if the department determines that the facts also constitute a separate violation for the health facility providing services under contract. (f) The hospice facility shall provide inpatient hospice care in compliance with Section 418.3 and Sections 418.52 to 418.116, inclusive, of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations until the department adopts regulations establishing alternative standards pursuant to Section 1250.1.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026