MA H4062

Hospitals must notify the Department of Public Health 90 days before closing or discontinuing any essential health service

The department must conduct a public hearing when a hospital proposes to discontinue essential services or close, and may request an impact analysis from the Health Policy Commission

The Division of Insurance must analyze whether a closure would cause insurers to fail network adequacy standards under 211 CMR 52.12

Hospitals discontinuing necessary services must submit a plan to ensure continued access to those services in the affected service area

New acute-care hospital licenses require a department-approved community benefits plan identifying essential health services, though waivers are available for applicants already providing substantial primary, preventive, and community health services