RULES AND MINIMUM STANDARDS.

(a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules and the department shall enforce the rules to further the purposes of this chapter. The rules at a minimum shall address:

(1) minimum requirements for staffing by physicians and nurses;

(2) hospital services relating to patient care;

(3) fire prevention, safety, and sanitation requirements in hospitals;

(4) patient care and a patient bill of rights;

(5) compliance with other state and federal laws affecting the health, safety, and rights of hospital patients; and

(6) compliance with nursing peer review under Subchapter I, Chapter 301, and Chapter 303, Occupations Code, and the rules of the Texas Board of Nursing relating to peer review.

(b) In adopting rules, the executive commissioner shall consider the conditions of participation for certification under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395 et seq.) and the standards of The Joint Commission and will attempt to achieve consistency with those conditions and standards.

(c) The department by order may waive or modify the requirement of a particular provision of this chapter or minimum standard adopted by department rule under this section to a particular general or special hospital if the department determines that the waiver or modification will facilitate the creation or operation of the hospital and that the waiver or modification is in the best interests of the individuals served or to be served by the hospital.

(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules establishing procedures and criteria for the issuance of the waiver or modification order. The criteria must include at a minimum a statement of the appropriateness of the waiver or modification against the best interests of the individuals served by the hospital.

(e) If the department orders a waiver or modification of a provision or standard, the licensing record of the hospital granted the waiver or modification shall contain documentation to support the action. Department rules shall specify the type and specificity of the supporting documentation that must be included.

(f) A comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital or a pediatric and adolescent hospital shall have an emergency treatment room but is not required to have an emergency department.