Bill > S0189

This bill establishes a mandatory process for hospitals in Vermont considering the elimination of certain critical services, including emergency departments, primary care, obstetrics, perinatal care, inpatient psychiatric services, substance use disorder treatment, dialysis, and inpatient pediatric services. Before eliminating these services, hospitals must first provide a preliminary notice to the Agency of Human Services, the Green Mountain Care Board (a state board overseeing healthcare costs and access), and the Office of the Health Care Advocate, detailing the reasons for the proposed elimination, its financial impacts, and any alternatives considered. The Agency and the Green Mountain Care Board can then consult with the hospital to explore options for maintaining the service. If the hospital decides to proceed, it must then issue a formal notice of intent to these agencies and local legislators at least 60 days before the elimination takes effect, including a timeline and transition plan, and post this notice online and in a local newspaper. Furthermore, hospitals must conduct a public engagement process, including public hearings and soliciting public comments, before finalizing the elimination. The bill also amends existing law to require the Green Mountain Care Board to review the impact of service eliminations on a hospital's budget and potentially adjust it, with any savings being considered for health insurance premiums or reinvestment in community-based services. All information related to these proposed eliminations is kept confidential from the public but accessible to the Office of the Health Care Advocate.