​Effective September 30, 2024, AB 177 extends the deadline for CDPH to adopt emergency regulations to implement recommendations in the California State Auditor Report 2021-123 regarding California Hospice Licensure and Oversight (March 29, 2022) to January 1, 2026.

This bill also extends the moratorium on new hospice agency licenses until January 1, 2027, or until one year after the date of adoption of the emergency regulations.

Applications for licensure of a multiple location of an existing hospice, a change of geographical service area, or a change of location outside of a hospice's approved geographical service area are subject to the moratorium. The moratorium will not affect hospice license renewal or other report of change applications, including, but not limited to, changes of ownership, location without a change in service area, or mailing address.

For specific details on the moratorium or emergency regulations, please refer to the following documents:

• AFL 22-28 Assembly Bill (AB) 2673 - Expansion of Hospice Agency Licensure Requirements, Oversight, and Enforcement
• Assembly Bill (AB) 2673 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF)
  
• AFL 21-53 Senate Bill (SB) 664 – Hospice Licensure: Moratorium on New Licenses 

The information in this AFL is a brief summary of the provisions of AB 177. Facilities are responsible for following all applicable laws. CDPH's failure to expressly notify facilities of statutory or regulatory requirements does not relieve facilities of their responsibility for following all laws and regulations. Facilities should refer to the full text of all applicable sections of HSC and the California Code of Regulations to ensure compliance.

For questions concerning the licensure moratorium, please email CDPH's Center for Health Care Quality (CHCQ), Centralized Applications Branch (CAB) at CABHospice@cdph.ca.gov.

For questions concerning emergency regulations, please email CHCQ's Regulation Development Section at CHCQRegulations@cdph.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Chelsea Driscoll

Chelsea Driscoll

Acting Deputy Director

Resources:

• AFL 22-28 Assembly Bill (AB) 2673 - Expansion of Hospice Agency Licensure Requirements, Oversight, and Enforcement
• Assembly Bill (AB) 2673 Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
• AFL 21-53 Senate Bill (SB) 664 – Hospice Licensure: Moratorium on New Licenses 
  
• California State Auditor Report 2021-123: California Hospice Licensure and Oversight (PDF)