SECTION 1:  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the annual assessment that is applied to each acute care hospital to fund the operations of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, pursuant to section 5 of Chapter 118G of the General laws shall not exceed each hospital's total annual amount that was assessed and collected by the Division in state fiscal year 2011. 

                SECTION 2:  The Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall prepare a report which sets forth recommendations for the establishment of new funding options to support the operations of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, pursuant to section 5 of chapter 118G of the General Laws.  The recommendations shall take into consideration the expanded role, responsibility and scope of work undertaken by the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy since the development of the current formula. The report shall include a specific recommendation (i) for reducing the expenses of the Division through added economies and efficiencies of operation and elimination of lower priority functions and activities, and (ii) for funding sources that more accurately reflects the current role of the Division and minimizes the expense to the hospital community. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall be directed to deliver its report and recommendations to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing by December 1, 2011.