The Legislature finds and declares that in this state, significant surgeries are being performed in unregulated out-of-hospital settings. The Legislature further finds and declares that without appropriate oversight, some of these settings may be operating in a manner which is injurious to the public health, welfare, and safety. Although the health professionals delivering health care services in these settings are licensed, further quality assurance is needed to ensure that health care services are safely and effectively performed in these settings. The Legislature further recognizes that there is a wide range of surgical procedures safely performed in a myriad of outpatient settings, and the degree of patient risk varies greatly. It is the intent of the Legislature to create regulations that directly impact patient safety. It is not the intent of the Legislature to require standards in excess of those requirements in Section 1248.15, or to require physical modifications to facilities unless the modifications or standards directly impact patient safety and are cost-effective. The cost effectiveness of any modifications shall be taken into consideration by the Division of Licensing of the Medical Board of California, and shall ensure that the least costly and effective method of achieving patient safety is required.

(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1276, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)