CT SB00795

Establishes the Office of Health Strategy within the Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 2018, responsible for developing comprehensive health care cost containment strategy, overseeing the all-payers claims database, and directing the Office of Health Care Access.

Narrows certificate of need requirements to focus on new hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, outpatient surgical facilities, hospital ownership transfers, large group practice transfers, service terminations, cardiac services, and advanced medical imaging equipment.

Creates a cost and market impact review process for hospital transfers involving large purchasers (net patient revenue exceeding $1.5 billion) or for-profit entities, with independent consultant oversight and potential attorney general referral for anti-competitive concerns.

Expands definitions and adds new concepts including "affected community," "behavioral health facility," "health care services," "quality," and "reduction" to clarify certificate of need application scope and evaluation criteria.

Implements a post-transfer compliance reporting requirement for three years following hospital ownership transfers involving major purchasers, with quarterly reporting to the office and annual public hearings in affected communities.