RCW 70.38.018: Statewide health resources strategy—Consistency—Waivers.

(1) For the purposes of this section and RCW 70.38.015 and 70.38.135, "statewide health resource strategy" or "strategy" means the statewide health resource strategy developed by the office of financial management pursuant to chapter 43.370 RCW.

(2) Effective January 1, 2010, for those facilities and services covered by the certificate of need programs, certificate of need determinations must be consistent with the statewide health resources strategy developed pursuant to RCW 43.370.030, including any health planning policies and goals identified in the statewide health resources strategy in effect at the time of application. The department may waive specific terms of the strategy if the applicant demonstrates that consistency with those terms will create an undue burden on the population that a particular project would serve, or in emergency circumstances which pose a threat to public health.