Amendment #4 to H4643

Preserving essential services in our hospitals

Ms. Higgins of Leominster moves to amend the amendment in section 116, in lines 1340 to 1351, inclusive, by striking out the paragraph contained in those lines, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph: “(4)(a) 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.”.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #4 to H4643

Preserving essential services in our hospitals