An Act To Ensure Rural Patient Populations Receive Safe and Effective Health Care

CONCEPT DRAFT SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to ensure that patient populations located in rural areas of the State receive safe and effective health care by placing certain reporting and approval requirements on an acute care or critical access hospital that is considering closure or terminating or reducing services. Any such hospital would need to provide at least 6 months’ notice to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters prior to the planned date of closure of the hospital or the termination or reduction of services. The hospital would also need to provide a study to the committee conducted by an independent 3rd party describing the impact of the closure or the termination or reduction of services on the patient population. Any closure or any termination or reduction of services would require approval prior to taking effect.