What is New on the Regulatory Front - Determination of Need Regulations

The DFA committee is welcoming our members after the summer vacation for our September meeting. Planning the upcoming year will be part of the meeting agenda, and we will then turn our attention to our guest Attorney Crystal Bloom from Barret and Singal, a Boston Law Firm specializing in healthcare, who will be able to bring clarity to the State overhaul of the Determination of Need process.

Architects and owners that are involved in designing and building State Department of Health licensed facilities are well aware of this sometimes lengthy phase that precedes the development process. Understanding the process and the revised and new requirements is critical in order to avoid snags during the design and plan approval or later for the owner who is counting on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for the health of their organization.

Crystal M. Bloom is a partner in the firm’s Health Law group and chair of its regulatory practice. She provides services and consultation to healthcare providers including teaching and community hospitals; rehabilitation and long-term care hospitals; behavioral health providers; healthcare systems; skilled care facilities; assisted living residences and other elder care providers; medical technology providers; community health centers, EMS providers, allied health professionals, clinics, hospices, and home health agencies.

Crystal counsels healthcare providers on a variety of state and federal regulatory matters governed by such agencies as the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Health Policy Commission, the Office of Medicaid (MassHealth), the Department of Mental Health, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Attorney General, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Specifically, Crystal advises clients with respect to DPH licensure and Medicare certification requirements; obtaining Determination of Need for the transfer of ownerships of hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, capital expenditure projects, and the acquisition of innovative services and new technology; DPH clinic and nursing home change in ownership application standards; and DPH architectural, plan review and licensure filings; state and federal agency quality of care enforcement actions.

Meetings are open and free to all interested. Please RSVP so we can plan for the refreshments.

For those who qualify, 1.5 LU/HSWs are available.

To learn more about the Design for Aging Committee, visit architects.org/committees/design-aging-committee

Click Register to attend.