Senate Approves Single Room Licensure Bill

The New Jersey State Senate this week approved a measure that would require the licensure of Single Room Surgical Practices (SRSPs) by a 30 to 8 vote.

S-2780, sponsored by Senator Joseph Vitale (D – Middlesex), was amended earlier to exempt all SRSPs from the gross receipts assessment currently paid by ambulatory care facilities, and exempt CMS certified SRSPs from the “physical plant and functional requirements” in the current Department of Health & Senior Services regulations. SRSPs that are not CMS certified can apply to the Department for a similar exemption.

In May, the Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee approved additional language that would require the Department to meet with SRSP physician owners and their representatives to promulgate regulations that better reflect the unique characteristics of a Single Room Surgical Practice.

The bill is now pending before the Assembly Health & Senior Services Committee with its Assembly counterpart, A-4099, sponsored by Assemblyman Herb Conaway, MD (D – Burlington).