Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Health and Human Services To Convene a Task Force To Study the Need for Long-term Acute Care Beds

Sec. 1. Commissioner of Health and Human Services to convene task force. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall convene a task force of stakeholders to evaluate the need for long-term acute care beds in the State.

Sec. 2. Task force duties. Resolved: That the evaluation by the task force convened under section 1 must include:

1. An estimate of the patient population in the State needing services provided by long-term acute care hospitals and where that patient population is receiving care now;

2. An analysis of the financial impact of the lack of long-term acute care beds on patients, families and facilities in the State;

3. An evaluation of the best locations in the State for long-term acute care beds; and

4. An evaluation of the options available regarding the number of long-term acute care beds in the State, including an estimate of the costs to establish a long-term acute care hospital in the State and designating existing beds as long-term acute care beds.

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall report the findings and conclusions of the task force under section 2, including any recommended legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by January 2, 2020. The joint standing committee is authorized to submit a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.