Amendment #22, as changed to H4643

Restoration of DoN

Mr. Cahill of Lynn moves to amend the amendment moves to amend amendment 22 by striking out the amendment and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Mr. Cahill of Lynn moves to amend the bill by striking out Section 116 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

SECTION 116. Section 51G of said chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out paragraph (4) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(4) Any hospital shall inform the department 90 days prior to the closing of the hospital or the discontinuance of any essential health service provided therein. The department shall by regulation define the words “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, and the department may seek an analysis of the impact of the closure from the health policy commission. The department shall determine whether any such discontinued services are necessary for preserving access and health status in the hospital’s service area and shall require hospitals to submit a plan for assuring access to such necessary services following the hospital’s closure of the service and assure continuing access to such services in the event that the department determines that their closure will significantly reduce access to necessary services. The department shall conduct a public hearing prior to a determination on the closure of said essential services or of the hospital. No original license shall be granted to establish or maintain an acute-care hospital, as defined in section 25B, unless the applicant submits a plan, to be approved by the department, for the provision of community benefits, including the identification and provision of essential health services. In approving the plan, the department may take into account the applicant’s existing commitment to primary and preventive health care services and community contributions as well as the primary and preventive health care services and community contributions of the predecessor hospital. The department may waive this requirement, in whole or in part, at the request of the applicant that has provided or at the time the application is filed, is providing, substantial primary and preventive health care services and community contributions in its service area.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #22, as changed to H4643

Restoration of DoN