The following definitions shall apply to all rules in this Section:

1. (1) "Approved neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) beds" means acute care beds in a hospital that were issued a certificate of need to provide Level IV neonatal intensive care services but are not providing those services as of the application deadline for the review period.
2. (2) "Average daily census (ADC)" means the total number of existing, approved, and proposed NICU days of care provided during a full fiscal year of operation divided by 365 days.
3. (3) "Existing NICU beds" means acute care beds in a hospital that are providing Level IV neonatal intensive care services as of the application deadline for the review period.
4. (4) "Level IV neonatal intensive care services" means services provided to high-risk medically unstable or critically ill neonates less than 32 weeks of gestational age, or infants requiring constant nursing care or supervision in NICU beds.
5. (5) "Occupancy rate" means the ADC divided by the total number of existing, approved, and proposed NICU beds expressed as a percentage.
6. (6) "Proposed NICU beds" means the acute care beds proposed to provide Level IV neonatal intensive care services in a hospital in the application under review.

History Note: Authority G.S. 131E-177(1); 131E-183(b);
Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 1993 for a period of 180 days or until the permanent rule becomes effective, whichever is sooner;
Eff. January 4, 1994;
Amended Eff. November 1, 1996;
Temporary Amendment Eff. March 15, 2002;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2003;
Readopted Eff. January 1, 2024.