1. Any person or other entity desiring to provide hospice care shall file, with the department of health and senior services, a written application for a certificate on a form to be prescribed by the director of the department. Such application shall be accompanied by a fee to be determined by the department of health and senior services with input from the hospice advisory council. The fee will be based on a sliding scale with a minimum of two hundred fifty dollars, maximum seven hundred fifty dollars. Any person or entity which exacts no charge shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 197.250 to 197.280.

2. The department may issue a temporary operating permit to any hospice which has filed an application, pending the approval of such application. Any temporary operating permit or certificate issued pursuant to sections 197.250 to 197.280 shall be issued only for the person or entity listed on the application.

3. Upon the receipt of the application and the fee, if one is required, the department shall conduct a survey to evaluate the quality of services rendered by an applicant for certification. The department shall approve the application of and issue a certificate to any applicant which is in compliance with all the provisions of sections 197.250 to 197.280 and the rules made pursuant thereto, and which passes the department’s survey.

4. The hospice shall post the temporary operating permit or certificate under which it is operating in a conspicuous place in its main office.

5. Any certificate issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to renewal as provided in section 197.256.

6. Any pharmacy operated by a licensed hospice shall be licensed and inspected by the board of pharmacy as provided in chapter 338.

7. Branch offices shall be located sufficiently close to share administration and supervision and services in a manner that renders it unnecessary for it to be separately certificated, except as otherwise provided in sections 197.250 to 197.280.