HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 683        FILED ON: 1/18/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 340

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ronald Mariano

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to public reporting of hospital margins.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Ronald Mariano

3rd Norfolk

1/18/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 683        FILED ON: 1/18/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 340

By Mr. Mariano of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 340) of Ronald Mariano relative to public reporting of hospital financial margins.  Health Care Financing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to public reporting of hospital margins.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 118G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4 the following new section:

4A. Reporting of Hospital Margins

If in any fiscal year, an Acute Hospital, as defined in this chapter, reports to the division an operating margin that exceeds 5 percent, the division shall hold a public hearing within 60 days.  The Acute Hospital shall submit testimony on its overall financial condition and the continued need to sustain an operating margin that exceeds 5 percent.  The Acute Hospital shall also submit testimony on efforts the Acute Hospital is making to advance health care cost containment and health care quality improvement; and whether, and in what proportion to the total operating margin, the Acute Hospital will dedicate any funds to reducing health care costs.  The division shall review such testimony and issue a final report on the results of the hearing.  In implementing the requirements of this Section, the Division shall utilize data collected by hospitals pursuant to the requirements of Section 53 of Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2010.