MA S1610

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 hospitals, community hospitals, and in-patient psychiatric hospitals

Study must examine current bed counts and services by hospital and region, including recent admission and discharge data, and review all hospital closures and service discontinuations since 1992

Requires assessment of projected need for essential health services in all regions over the next decade and identification of services vulnerable to discontinuation within the next three years

Study must examine financial conditions contributing to service discontinuations, including private and public reimbursement rates, and identify steps to protect services at financially vulnerable hospitals

Requires review of methods used by other states to discourage hospital closures and service discontinuations, and must recommend policy changes to ensure access to essential health services statewide