(a) Notwithstanding any other law or rule to the contrary, the Department may license as a hospital a building that (i) is owned or operated by a hospital licensed under this Act, (ii) is located in a municipality with a population of less than 60,000, and (iii) includes a postsurgical recovery care center licensed under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act for a period of not less than 2 years, an ambulatory surgical treatment center licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, and a Freestanding Emergency Center licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Only the components of the building which are currently licensed shall be eligible under the provisions of this Section.
     (b) Prior to issuing a license, the Department shall inspect the facility and require the facility to meet such of the Department’s rules relating to the establishment of hospitals as the Department determines are appropriate to such facility. Once the Department approves the facility and issues a hospital license, all other licenses as listed in subsection (a) above shall be null and void.
     (c) Only one license may be issued under the authority of this Section. No license may be issued after 18 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
     (d) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, each hospital building or facility that is (i) located on the campus of the licensee but on a site that is not contiguous, adjacent, or otherwise attached to the main hospital building of the campus of the licensee, (ii) operated by the licensee, and (iii) provides inpatient services to patients at this building or facility shall, at a minimum, individually comply with the Department’s hospital licensing requirements for emergency services. The hospital shall submit to the Department a comprehensive plan describing the services and operations of each facility or building and how common services or operations will be coordinated between the various locations. The Department shall review the plan and may authorize a waiver granting an exemption for compliance with the hospital licensing requirements for specific buildings or facilities, including requirements for emergency services, provided that the hospital has documented which other building or facility under its single license provides that service or operation, and that doing so would not endanger the public’s health, safety, or welfare. Nothing in this Section relieves a hospital from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act.