MA H2507

Requires the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Health Policy Commission and Center for Health Information Analysis, to commission a study on access to essential health services at acute care and inpatient psychiatric hospitals across Massachusetts

Study must examine current hospital bed counts, admission/discharge data by service and region, and project essential health service needs over the next decade

Mandates review of hospital closures and essential service discontinuations since 1992 to assess their impact on healthcare access

Requires identification of essential health services vulnerable to discontinuation within the next three years and examination of financial conditions (including reimbursement rates) that may threaten services

Study must review methods used by other states to manage service discontinuations and recommend policy changes to ensure access to essential health services in all regions of the Commonwealth