Upon filing of the application for a license provided for in, and upon full compliance with, the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter by the state department, the state department shall issue to the applicant the license applied for. However, any hospital, as defined in Section 1401 which is licensed under the provisions of Chapter 2.3 (commencing with Section 1400) is not required to obtain a license. In order for a hospital to establish, conduct, or maintain a home health agency, it shall comply with all the provisions of this chapter and be approved by the state department. The approval shall be deemed to be licensure and shall not extend past midnight on the 31st day of December of each calendar year. The fee set forth in Section 1729 shall be paid before approval is granted. Approval may be denied or withdrawn by the state department on the same grounds as provided for denial, suspension, or revocation of a home health agency license. The state department may take the same action against any approved hospital home health agency as it may against any licensed home health agency under this chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 714.)