Bill > S632

This bill amends several sections of Massachusetts law to strengthen the state's oversight and planning for hospital closures and the availability of essential health services. Key provisions include: 1. Establishing a Health Planning Council within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to develop and update a statewide health plan, with input from a diverse advisory committee. 2. Requiring the health plan to assess regional needs and resource capacity, and make recommendations to address service shortages and surpluses. 3. Empowering the Department of Public Health to review and approve plans for hospitals to discontinue essential health services or close entirely, and to ensure access to necessary services is maintained. 4. Imposing penalties on hospitals that close or discontinue essential services without proper notice and approval, including temporary bans on new hospital licenses or state funding. 5. Requiring hospitals to comply with uniform reporting requirements to the Center for Health Information and Analysis. The overall goal of the bill is to improve health care planning and oversight to prevent disruptions in access to essential services when hospitals undergo major changes.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S632