Transfer of rehabilitation capacity approved

Lawmakers gave final approval May 2 to a bill meant to allow rehabilitation entities to transfer patient capacity between facilities.

LB487, introduced by Lexington Sen. John Wightman, amends the Nebraska Health Care Certificate of Need Act that governs the establishment, transfer or increase in the number of rehabilitation beds in the state.

Under current law, a certificate of need (CON) is required before any relocation of rehabilitation beds in Nebraska from one health care facility to another.

The bill clarifies that a hospital may transfer rehabilitation beds between locations owned and operated by the same hospital without a CON.

LB487 passed on a 40-0 vote.