Section 197.020

Title XII PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Chapter 197

Effective - 28 Aug 2023, 2 histories   

  197.020.  Definitions. — 1.  "Governmental unit" means any county, municipality or other political subdivision or any department, division, board or other agency of any of the foregoing.

  2.  "Hospital" means a place devoted primarily to the maintenance and operation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment or care for not less than twenty-four consecutive hours in any week of three or more nonrelated individuals suffering from illness, disease, injury, deformity or other abnormal physical conditions; or a place devoted primarily to provide for not less than twenty-four consecutive hours in any week medical or nursing care for three or more nonrelated individuals.  The term "hospital" shall include a facility designated as a rural emergency hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  The term "hospital" does not include convalescent, nursing, shelter or boarding homes as defined in chapter 198.

  3.  "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company or association and the legal successors thereof.

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(L. 1953 p. 631 § 2, A.L. 1959 S.B. 19, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1408 merged with H.B. 1427, A.L. 2023 H.B. 402 merged with S.B. 24 merged with S.B. 45 & 90 merged with S.B. 106)

(1995)  Outpatient radiation therapy services operated by hospital in commercial building was not open twenty-four hours in any day and is not a hospital, therefore is not subject to certificate of need law.  SSM Health Care v. Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee, 894 S.W.2d 674 (Mo. en banc).