(20 ILCS 3960/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1153) (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-557) (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2029) Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act: "Health care facilities" means and includes the following facilities, organizations, and related persons: (1) An ambulatory surgical treatment center required to be licensed pursuant to the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act. (2) An institution, place, building, or agency required to be licensed pursuant to the Hospital Licensing Act. (3) Skilled and intermediate long term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act. (A) If a demonstration project under the Nursing Home Care Act applies for a certificate of need to convert to a nursing facility, it shall meet the licensure and certificate of need requirements in effect as of the date of application. (B) Except as provided in item (A) of this subsection, this Act does not apply to facilities granted waivers under Section 3-102.2 of the Nursing Home Care Act. (3.5) Skilled and intermediate care facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act. No permit or exemption is required for a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act prior to the reduction of the number of beds at a facility. If there is a total reduction of beds at a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act, this is a discontinuation or closure of the facility. If a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act reduces the number of beds or discontinues the facility, that facility must notify the Board as provided in Section 14.1 of this Act. (3.7) Facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. (4) Hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, or kidney disease treatment centers maintained by the State or any department or agency thereof. (5) Kidney disease treatment centers, including a free-standing hemodialysis unit required to meet the requirements of 42 CFR 494 in order to be certified for participation in Medicare and Medicaid under Titles XVIII and XIX of the federal Social Security Act. (A) This Act does not apply to a dialysis facility that provides only dialysis training, support, and related services to individuals with end stage renal disease who have elected to receive home dialysis. (B) This Act does not apply to a dialysis unit located in a licensed nursing home that offers or provides dialysis-related services to residents with end stage renal disease who have elected to receive home dialysis within the nursing home. (C) The Board, however, may require dialysis facilities and licensed nursing homes under items (A) and (B) of this subsection to report statistical information on a quarterly basis to the Board to be used by the Board to conduct analyses on the need for proposed kidney disease treatment centers. (6) An institution, place, building, or room used for the performance of outpatient surgical procedures that is leased, owned, or operated by or on behalf of an out-of-state facility. (7) An institution, place, building, or room used for provision of a health care category of service, including, but not limited to, cardiac catheterization and open heart surgery. (8) An institution, place, building, or room housing major medical equipment used in the direct clinical diagnosis or treatment of patients, and whose project cost is in excess of the capital expenditure minimum. "Health care facilities" does not include the following entities or facility transactions: (1) Federally-owned facilities. (2) Facilities used solely for healing by prayer or spiritual means. (3) An existing facility located on any campus facility as defined in Section 5-5.8b of the Illinois Public Aid Code, provided that the campus facility encompasses 30 or more contiguous acres and that the new or renovated facility is intended for use by a licensed residential facility. (4) Facilities licensed under the Supportive Residences Licensing Act or the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. (5) Facilities designated as supportive living facilities that are in good standing with the program established under Section 5-5.01a of the Illinois Public Aid Code. (6) Facilities established and operating under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act as a children's community-based health care center alternative health care model demonstration program or as an Alzheimer's Disease Management Center alternative health care model demonstration program. (7) The closure of an entity or a portion of an entity licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, with the exception of facilities operated by a county or Illinois Veterans Homes, that elect to convert, in whole or in part, to an assisted living or shared housing establishment licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and with the exception of a facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 in connection with a proposal to close a facility and re-establish the facility in another location. (8) Any change of ownership of a health care facility that is licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, with the exception of facilities operated by a county or Illinois Veterans Homes. Changes of ownership of facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act must meet the requirements set forth in Sections 3-101 through 3-119 of the Nursing Home Care Act. (9) (Blank). With the exception of those health care facilities specifically included in this Section, nothing in this Act shall be intended to include facilities operated as a part of the practice of a physician or other licensed health care professional, whether practicing in his individual capacity or within the legal structure of any partnership, medical or professional corporation, or unincorporated medical or professional group. Further, this Act shall not apply to physicians or other licensed health care professional's practices where such practices are carried out in a portion of a health care facility under contract with such health care facility by a physician or by other licensed health care professionals, whether practicing in his individual capacity or within the legal structure of any partnership, medical or professional corporation, or unincorporated medical or professional groups, unless the entity constructs, modifies, or establishes a health care facility as specifically defined in this Section. This Act shall apply to construction or modification and to establishment by such health care facility of such contracted portion which is subject to facility licensing requirements, irrespective of the party responsible for such action or attendant financial obligation. "Person" means any one or more natural persons, legal entities, governmental bodies other than federal, or any combination thereof. "Consumer" means any person other than a person (a) whose major occupation currently involves or whose official capacity within the last 12 months has involved the providing, administering or financing of any type of health care facility, (b) who is engaged in health research or the teaching of health, (c) who has a material financial interest in any activity which involves the providing, administering or financing of any type of health care facility, or (d) who is or ever has been a member of the immediate family of the person defined by item (a), (b), or (c). "State Board" or "Board" means the Health Facilities and Services Review Board. "Construction or modification" means the establishment, erection, building, alteration, reconstruction, modernization, improvement, extension, discontinuation, change of ownership, of or by a health care facility, or the purchase or acquisition by or through a health care facility of equipment or service for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes or for facility administration or operation, or any capital expenditure made by or on behalf of a health care facility which exceeds the capital expenditure minimum; however, any capital expenditure made by or on behalf of a health care facility for (i) the construction or modification of a facility licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act or (ii) a conversion project undertaken in accordance with Section 30 of the Older Adult Services Act shall be excluded from any obligations under this Act. "Establish" means the construction of a health care facility or the replacement of an existing facility on another site or the initiation of a category of service. "Major medical equipment" means medical equipment which is used for the provision of medical and other health services and which costs in excess of the capital expenditure minimum, except that such term does not include medical equipment acquired by or on behalf of a clinical laboratory to provide clinical laboratory services if the clinical laboratory is independent of a physician's office and a hospital and it has been determined under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to meet the requirements of paragraphs (10) and (11) of Section 1861(s) of such Act. In determining whether medical equipment has a value in excess of the capital expenditure minimum, the value of studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, and other activities essential to the acquisition of such equipment shall be included. "Capital expenditure" means an expenditure: (A) made by or on behalf of a health care facility (as such a facility is defined in this Act); and (B) which under generally accepted accounting principles is not properly chargeable as an expense of operation and maintenance, or is made to obtain by lease or comparable arrangement any facility or part thereof or any equipment for a facility or part; and which exceeds the capital expenditure minimum. For the purpose of this paragraph, the cost of any studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, and other activities essential to the acquisition, improvement, expansion, or replacement of any plant or equipment with respect to which an expenditure is made shall be included in determining if such expenditure exceeds the capital expenditures minimum. Unless otherwise interdependent, or submitted as one project by the applicant, components of construction or modification undertaken by means of a single construction contract or financed through the issuance of a single debt instrument shall not be grouped together as one project. Donations of equipment or facilities to a health care facility which if acquired directly by such facility would be subject to review under this Act shall be considered capital expenditures, and a transfer of equipment or facilities for less than fair market value shall be considered a capital expenditure for purposes of this Act if a transfer of the equipment or facilities at fair market value would be subject to review. "Capital expenditure minimum" means $11,500,000 for projects by hospital applicants, $6,500,000 for applicants for projects related to skilled and intermediate care long-term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, and $3,000,000 for projects by all other applicants, which shall be annually adjusted to reflect the increase in construction costs due to inflation, for major medical equipment and for all other capital expenditures. "Financial commitment" means the commitment of at least 33% of total funds assigned to cover total project cost, which occurs by the actual expenditure of 33% or more of the total project cost or the commitment to expend 33% or more of the total project cost by signed contracts or other legal means. "Non-clinical service area" means an area (i) for the benefit of the patients, visitors, staff, or employees of a health care facility and (ii) not directly related to the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation of persons receiving services from the health care facility. "Non-clinical service areas" include, but are not limited to, chapels; gift shops; news stands; computer systems; tunnels, walkways, and elevators; telephone systems; projects to comply with life safety codes; educational facilities; components in a patient care unit used as educational space, consultation and touchdown rooms, and on-call rooms; student housing; patient, employee, staff, and visitor dining areas; administration and volunteer offices; modernization of structural components (such as roof replacement and masonry work); boiler repair or replacement; vehicle maintenance and storage facilities; parking facilities; mechanical systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; loading docks; and repair or replacement of carpeting, tile, wall coverings, window coverings or treatments, or furniture. "Non-clinical service area" does not include health and fitness centers, areas in a patient care unit, or areas that are required by Department licensing standards, including life safety code regulations, such as hallways and other interdependent components to a clinical area. "Areawide" means a major area of the State delineated on a geographic, demographic, and functional basis for health planning and for health service and having within it one or more local areas for health planning and health service. The term "region", as contrasted with the term "subregion", and the word "area" may be used synonymously with the term "areawide". "Local" means a subarea of a delineated major area that on a geographic, demographic, and functional basis may be considered to be part of such major area. The term "subregion" may be used synonymously with the term "local". "Physician" means a person licensed to practice in accordance with the Medical Practice Act of 1987, as amended. "Licensed health care professional" means a person licensed to practice a health profession under pertinent licensing statutes of the State of Illinois. "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. "Agency" or "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health. "Alternative health care model" means a facility or program authorized under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. "Out-of-state facility" means a person that is both (i) licensed as a hospital or as an ambulatory surgery center under the laws of another state or that qualifies as a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center under regulations adopted pursuant to the Social Security Act and (ii) not licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, the Hospital Licensing Act, or the Nursing Home Care Act. Affiliates of out-of-state facilities shall be considered out-of-state facilities. Affiliates of Illinois licensed health care facilities 100% owned by an Illinois licensed health care facility, its parent, or Illinois physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches shall not be considered out-of-state facilities. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include an office or any part of an office of a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois that is not required to be licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act. "Change of ownership of a health care facility" means a change in the person who has ownership or control of a health care facility's physical plant and capital assets. A change in ownership is indicated by the following transactions: sale, transfer, acquisition, lease, change of sponsorship, or other means of transferring control. "Related person" means any person that: (i) is at least 50% owned, directly or indirectly, by either the health care facility or a person owning, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the health care facility; or (ii) owns, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the health care facility. "Charity care" means care provided by a health care facility for which the provider does not expect to receive payment from the patient or a third-party payer. "Freestanding emergency center" means a facility subject to licensure under Section 32.5 of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. "Category of service" means a grouping by generic class of various types or levels of support functions, equipment, care, or treatment provided to patients or residents, including, but not limited to, classes such as medical-surgical, pediatrics, or cardiac catheterization. A category of service may include subcategories or levels of care that identify a particular degree or type of care within the category of service. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include the practice of a physician or other licensed health care professional while functioning in an office providing for the care, diagnosis, or treatment of patients. A category of service that is subject to the Board's jurisdiction must be designated in rules adopted by the Board. "State Board Staff Report" means the document that sets forth the review and findings of the State Board staff, as prescribed by the State Board, regarding applications subject to Board jurisdiction. "Patient care unit" means a physically identifiable and organized unit in a clearly defined administrative and geographic area that meets applicable standards of service in which nursing care and therapeutic services are provided on a continuous basis and to which specific nursing and support staff are assigned. "Patient care unit" does not include education spaces, consultation and touchdown rooms, and on-call rooms that are not required by Department licensing standards. "Provider" includes, but is not limited to, a hospital, long-term care facility, end-stage renal dialysis facility, ambulatory surgical treatment center, freestanding emergency center, or birth center. (Source: P.A. 104-365, eff. 1-1-26.) (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-557) (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2029) Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act: "Certificate of need" or "permit" means the authorization for a health care facility to conduct activities or transactions that require Board approval under this Act, including constructing or modifying the health care facility and acquiring major medical equipment. "Certificate of exemption" or "exemption" means the authorization for a health care facility to conduct activities or transactions that are exempt from the permitting requirements under this Act, including changes of ownership, discontinuation of a single category of service, and the establishment or expansion of a neonatal intensive care service or the addition of beds. "Health care facilities" means and includes the following facilities, organizations, and related persons: (1) An ambulatory surgical treatment center required to be licensed pursuant to the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act. (2) An institution, place, building, or agency required to be licensed pursuant to the Hospital Licensing Act. (3) Skilled and intermediate long term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act. (A) If a demonstration project under the Nursing Home Care Act applies for a certificate of need to convert to a nursing facility, it shall meet the licensure and certificate of need requirements in effect as of the date of application. (B) Except as provided in item (A) of this subsection, this Act does not apply to facilities granted waivers under Section 3-102.2 of the Nursing Home Care Act. (3.5) Skilled and intermediate care facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act. No permit or exemption is required for a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act prior to the reduction of the number of beds at a facility. If there is a total reduction of beds at a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act, this is a discontinuation or closure of the facility. If a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act reduces the number of beds or discontinues the facility, that facility must notify the Board as provided in Section 14.1 of this Act. (3.7) Facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. (4) Hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, or kidney disease treatment centers maintained by the State or any department or agency thereof. (5) Kidney disease treatment centers, including a free-standing hemodialysis unit required to meet the requirements of 42 CFR 494 in order to be certified for participation in Medicare and Medicaid under Titles XVIII and XIX of the federal Social Security Act. (A) This Act does not apply to a dialysis facility that provides only dialysis training, support, and related services to individuals with end stage renal disease who have elected to receive home dialysis. (B) This Act does not apply to a dialysis unit located in a licensed nursing home that offers or provides dialysis-related services to residents with end stage renal disease who have elected to receive home dialysis within the nursing home. (C) The Board, however, may require dialysis facilities and licensed nursing homes under items (A) and (B) of this subsection to report statistical information on a quarterly basis to the Board to be used by the Board to conduct analyses on the need for proposed kidney disease treatment centers. (6) An institution, place, building, or room used for the performance of outpatient surgical procedures that is leased, owned, or operated by or on behalf of an out-of-state facility. (7) An institution, place, building, or room used for provision of a health care category of service, including, but not limited to, cardiac catheterization and open heart surgery. (8) An institution, place, building, or room housing major medical equipment used in the direct clinical diagnosis or treatment of patients, and whose project cost is in excess of the capital expenditure minimum. "Health care facilities" does not include the following entities or facility transactions: (1) Federally-owned facilities. (2) Facilities used solely for healing by prayer or spiritual means. (3) An existing facility located on any campus facility as defined in Section 5-5.8b of the Illinois Public Aid Code, provided that the campus facility encompasses 30 or more contiguous acres and that the new or renovated facility is intended for use by a licensed residential facility. (4) Facilities licensed under the Supportive Residences Licensing Act or the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. (5) Facilities designated as supportive living facilities that are in good standing with the program established under Section 5-5.01a of the Illinois Public Aid Code. (6) Facilities established and operating under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act as a children's community-based health care center alternative health care model demonstration program or as an Alzheimer's Disease Management Center alternative health care model demonstration program. (7) The closure of an entity or a portion of an entity licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, with the exception of facilities operated by a county or Illinois Veterans Homes, that elect to convert, in whole or in part, to an assisted living or shared housing establishment licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and with the exception of a facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 in connection with a proposal to close a facility and re-establish the facility in another location. (8) Any change of ownership of a health care facility that is licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, with the exception of facilities operated by a county or Illinois Veterans Homes. Changes of ownership of facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act must meet the requirements set forth in Sections 3-101 through 3-119 of the Nursing Home Care Act. (9) (Blank). With the exception of those health care facilities specifically included in this Section, nothing in this Act shall be intended to include facilities operated as a part of the practice of a physician or other licensed health care professional, whether practicing in his individual capacity or within the legal structure of any partnership, medical or professional corporation, or unincorporated medical or professional group. Further, this Act shall not apply to physicians or other licensed health care professional's practices where such practices are carried out in a portion of a health care facility under contract with such health care facility by a physician or by other licensed health care professionals, whether practicing in his individual capacity or within the legal structure of any partnership, medical or professional corporation, or unincorporated medical or professional groups, unless the entity constructs, modifies, or establishes a health care facility as specifically defined in this Section. This Act shall apply to construction or modification and to establishment by such health care facility of such contracted portion which is subject to facility licensing requirements, irrespective of the party responsible for such action or attendant financial obligation. "Person" means any one or more natural persons, legal entities, governmental bodies other than federal, or any combination thereof. "Consumer" means any person other than a person (a) whose major occupation currently involves or whose official capacity within the last 12 months has involved the providing, administering or financing of any type of health care facility, (b) who is engaged in health research or the teaching of health, (c) who has a material financial interest in any activity which involves the providing, administering or financing of any type of health care facility, or (d) who is or ever has been a member of the immediate family of the person defined by item (a), (b), or (c). "State Board" or "Board" means the Health Facilities and Services Review Board. "Construction or modification" means the establishment, erection, building, alteration, reconstruction, modernization, improvement, extension, of or by a health care facility, or the purchase or acquisition by or through a health care facility of equipment or service for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes or for facility administration or operation, or any capital expenditure made by or on behalf of a health care facility which exceeds the capital expenditure minimum; however, any capital expenditure made by or on behalf of a health care facility for (i) the construction or modification of a facility licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act or (ii) a conversion project undertaken in accordance with Section 30 of the Older Adult Services Act shall be excluded from any obligations under this Act. "Discontinuation" means to, on a voluntary or involuntary basis, cease the operation of a health care facility or discontinue a category of service. "Establish" means the construction of a health care facility or the replacement of an existing health care facility on another site or the initiation of a category of service. "Major medical equipment" means medical equipment which is used for the provision of medical and other health services and which costs in excess of the capital expenditure minimum, except that such term does not include medical equipment acquired by or on behalf of a clinical laboratory to provide clinical laboratory services if the clinical laboratory is independent of a physician's office and a hospital and it has been determined under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to meet the requirements of paragraphs (10) and (11) of Section 1861(s) of such Act. In determining whether medical equipment has a value in excess of the capital expenditure minimum, the value of studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, and other activities essential to the acquisition of such equipment shall be included. "Capital expenditure" means an expenditure: (A) made by or on behalf of a health care facility (as such a facility is defined in this Act); and (B) which under generally accepted accounting principles is not properly chargeable as an expense of operation and maintenance, or is made to obtain by lease or comparable arrangement any facility or part thereof or any equipment for a facility or part; and which exceeds the capital expenditure minimum. For the purpose of this paragraph, the cost of any studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, and other activities essential to the acquisition, improvement, expansion, or replacement of any plant or equipment with respect to which an expenditure is made shall be included in determining if such expenditure exceeds the capital expenditures minimum. Unless otherwise interdependent, or submitted as one project by the applicant, components of construction or modification undertaken by means of a single construction contract or financed through the issuance of a single debt instrument shall not be grouped together as one project. Donations of equipment or facilities to a health care facility which if acquired directly by such facility would be subject to review under this Act shall be considered capital expenditures, and a transfer of equipment or facilities for less than fair market value shall be considered a capital expenditure for purposes of this Act if a transfer of the equipment or facilities at fair market value would be subject to review. "Capital expenditure minimum" means $11,500,000 for projects by hospital applicants, $6,500,000 for applicants for projects related to skilled and intermediate care long-term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, and $3,000,000 for projects by all other applicants, which shall be annually adjusted to reflect the increase in construction costs due to inflation, for major medical equipment and for all other capital expenditures. "Financial commitment" means the commitment of at least 33% of total funds assigned to cover total project cost, which occurs by the actual expenditure of 33% or more of the total project cost or the commitment to expend 33% or more of the total project cost by signed contracts or other legal means. "Non-clinical service area" means an area (i) for the benefit of the patients, visitors, staff, or employees of a health care facility and (ii) not directly related to the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation of persons receiving services from the health care facility. "Non-clinical service areas" include, but are not limited to, chapels; gift shops; news stands; computer systems; tunnels, walkways, and elevators; telephone systems; projects to comply with life safety codes; educational facilities; components in a patient care unit used as educational space, consultation and touchdown rooms, and on-call rooms; student housing; patient, employee, staff, and visitor dining areas; administration and volunteer offices; modernization of structural components (such as roof replacement and masonry work); boiler repair or replacement; vehicle maintenance and storage facilities; parking facilities; mechanical systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; loading docks; and repair or replacement of carpeting, tile, wall coverings, window coverings or treatments, or furniture. "Non-clinical service area" does not include health and fitness centers, areas in a patient care unit, or areas that are required by Department licensing standards, including life safety code regulations, such as hallways and other interdependent components to a clinical area. "Areawide" means a major area of the State delineated on a geographic, demographic, and functional basis for health planning and for health service and having within it one or more local areas for health planning and health service. The term "region", as contrasted with the term "subregion", and the word "area" may be used synonymously with the term "areawide". "Local" means a subarea of a delineated major area that on a geographic, demographic, and functional basis may be considered to be part of such major area. The term "subregion" may be used synonymously with the term "local". "Physician" means a person licensed to practice in accordance with the Medical Practice Act of 1987, as amended. "Licensed health care professional" means a person licensed to practice a health profession under pertinent licensing statutes of the State of Illinois. "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. "Agency" or "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health. "Alternative health care model" means a facility or program authorized under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. "Out-of-state facility" means a person that is both (i) licensed as a hospital or as an ambulatory surgery center under the laws of another state or that qualifies as a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center under regulations adopted pursuant to the Social Security Act and (ii) not licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, the Hospital Licensing Act, or the Nursing Home Care Act. Affiliates of out-of-state facilities shall be considered out-of-state facilities. Affiliates of Illinois licensed health care facilities 100% owned by an Illinois licensed health care facility, its parent, or Illinois physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches shall not be considered out-of-state facilities. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include an office or any part of an office of a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois that is not required to be licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act. "Change of ownership of a health care facility" means a change in the person who has ownership or control of a health care facility's physical plant and capital assets. A change in ownership is indicated by the following transactions: sale, transfer, acquisition, lease, change of sponsorship, or other means of transferring control. "Related person" means any person that: (i) is at least 50% owned, directly or indirectly, by either the health care facility or a person owning, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the health care facility; or (ii) owns, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the health care facility. "Charity care" means care provided by a health care facility for which the provider does not expect to receive payment from the patient or a third-party payer. "Freestanding emergency center" means a facility subject to licensure under Section 32.5 of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. "Category of service" means a grouping by generic class of various types or levels of support functions, equipment, care, or treatment provided to patients or residents, including, but not limited to, classes such as medical-surgical, pediatrics, or cardiac catheterization. A category of service may include subcategories or levels of care that identify a particular degree or type of care within the category of service. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include the practice of a physician or other licensed health care professional while functioning in an office providing for the care, diagnosis, or treatment of patients. A category of service that is subject to the Board's jurisdiction must be designated in rules adopted by the Board. "State Board Staff Report" means the document that sets forth the review and findings of the State Board staff, as prescribed by the State Board, regarding applications subject to Board jurisdiction. "Patient care unit" means a physically identifiable and organized unit in a clearly defined administrative and geographic area that meets applicable standards of service in which nursing care and therapeutic services are provided on a continuous basis and to which specific nursing and support staff are assigned. "Patient care unit" does not include education spaces, consultation and touchdown rooms, and on-call rooms that are not required by Department licensing standards. "Provider" includes, but is not limited to, a hospital, long-term care facility, end-stage renal dialysis facility, ambulatory surgical treatment center, freestanding emergency center, or birth center. (Source: P.A. 104-365, eff. 1-1-26; 104-557, eff. 1-1-27.)
