HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1538        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Natalie M. Higgins and Margaret R. Scarsdale

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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 preserving essential services in our hospitals.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1538        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4230 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act preserving essential services in our hospitals.

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

Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking subsection (4) of section 51G and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

(4) Any hospital shall inform the department 90 days prior to the proposed closing of the hospital or the proposed discontinuance of any essential health service provided therein. The department shall by regulation define ''essential health service'' for the purposes of this section. The department shall, in the event that a hospital proposes to discontinue an essential health service or services, conduct a public hearing on the closure of said essential services or of the hospital. The department shall determine whether any such discontinued services are necessary for preserving access and health status in the hospital's service area and if the department so determines, the essential health service shall not be proposed for closure for three years.