Section 501.1. Legal base

(a) This subpart is promulgated by the Department under the powers granted and the duties mandated by Chapter 8 of the Health Care Facilities Act (35 P. S. § § 448.801a—448.820), and by section 2102(a) and (g) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 532(a) and (g)).

(b) The Department has the power and its duty is to promulgate, after consultation with the Health Care Policy Board, the rules and regulations necessary to carry out Chapter 8 of the Health Care Facilities Act and to assure that the act is enforced.

(c) The purpose of this chapter is to protect and promote the public health and welfare through the establishment and enforcement of regulations setting minimum standards in the construction, maintenance, and operation of health care facilities. The standards are intended by the Department to assure safe, adequate, and efficient facilities and services, and to promote the health, safety, and adequate care of the patients or residents of the facilities. It is also the purpose of this chapter to assure quality health care through appropriate and nonduplicative review and inspection, with regard to the protection of the health and rights of privacy of patients and without unreasonably interfering with the operation of the health care facility.