Bill > S1269

This bill aims to protect essential health services by amending Section 51G of Chapter 111 of the General Laws. It requires hospitals proposing to close or discontinue an essential health service to provide specific information, including the reasons for the proposed closure, an analysis of the economic feasibility and clinical safety of retaining the service, and the potential impact on public health and safety. Additionally, the bill empowers the Department of Public Health to deny a proposed discontinuance and require the retention of an essential health service if it can be done in a clinically safe manner without depriving the hospital of a fair net operating income. The bill also allows the Department to require the retention of a hospital proposed for closure if it is owned or controlled by an entity with other licensed facilities and can be retained in a clinically safe manner without depriving the entity of a fair net operating income.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S1269