Bill > H8214

This bill imposes a moratorium, meaning a temporary halt, on the issuance of new licenses for home care providers, home nursing care providers, and hospice providers until July 1, 2031, with the exception of certain emergency circumstances, previously unapproved certificate of need applications, changes in ownership or control of existing licenses, or compelling needs related to specific geographic areas or patient populations, such as pain management. During this moratorium, the Department of Health (DOH) is required to conduct a comprehensive study of the current availability, utilization, and geographic distribution of these services, identifying underserved areas and populations, and projecting future demand, with the findings to inform future licensing decisions. If the DOH fails to produce this report by July 1, 2031, or any subsequent five-year interval, the moratorium will continue. The number of licenses in effect as of June 30, 2026, will serve as the maximum number of licenses allowed in each category, with adjustments made if there's a significant reduction in licenses or if a provider closes without a change in control. The bill also mandates that all such providers maintain a physical office location and clarifies that its provisions will supersede any conflicting statutes or regulations. This act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.