Amendment #11 to H3872

Hospital Use of Alternative Space

Ms. Decker of Cambridge moves to amend the bill, as amended, by inserting the following new section:-

SECTION XX. (a) For the purposes of this section “guidelines” shall mean the Guidelines for Use of Alternative Space for COVID-19 Treatment Area as established in a memorandum prepared by the department of public health’s bureau of health care safety and quality and dated June 14, 2021.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a hospital may use space not currently licensed or approved for patient care, on or off the hospital campus, to temporarily establish alternative care areas for the screening, evaluation and treatment of COVID-19 patients, possible COVID-19 patients, and behavioral health patients that would otherwise be boarding in emergency departments, and for COVID-19 vaccine administration; provided, however, that the hospital shall comply with department of public health guidelines related to the temporary use of such space, as applicable, and receive any necessary local approvals required for the erection and use of temporary structures. Hospitals may identify and use existing non-patient care space, or other outpatient or inpatient care space, or other unlicensed space not on the hospital’s campus, as needed for patient care and consistent with department of public health guidelines.