ASSIGNMENT OF LEVEL OF CARE DESIGNATION.

(a) The executive commissioner, in consultation with the department, shall assign the appropriate level of care designation to each hospital that meets the minimum standards for that level of care. The executive commissioner shall evaluate separately the neonatal and maternal services provided at the hospital and assign the respective level of care designations accordingly.

(b) Every three years, the executive commissioner and the department shall review the level of care designations assigned to each hospital and, as necessary, assign a hospital a different level of care designation or remove the hospital's level of care designation.

(c) A hospital may request a change of designation at any time. On request under this subsection, the executive commissioner and the department shall review the hospital's request and, as necessary, change the hospital's level of care designation.