MA S1626

Amends Section 51G of Chapter 111 of the General Laws to expand notification requirements when hospitals propose closing or discontinuing essential health services

Requires notifications to include the reasons for proposed closure, an economic feasibility analysis of retaining the service, and an analysis of clinical safety and public health threats from the closure

Grants the Department of Public Health authority to deny proposed discontinuances and require retention of essential health services if they can be maintained in a clinically safe manner without depriving the hospital of fair net operating income

Allows the department to require retention of an entire hospital proposed for closure if it is owned by an entity with other licensed facilities and can be safely maintained without depriving that entity of fair net operating income

Permits the department to approve modifications to services or hospital configurations as an alternative to full retention in original condition