NJ A6198

Hospitals approved to relocate from underserved communities must maintain minimum required departments, inpatient beds, services, facilities, and functions at their original location under the same license as the relocated hospital

"Underserved community" is defined as a municipality with over 30,000 residents that is designated as a Medically Underserved Area, has an Index of Medical Underservice Score of 62.0 or less, and is identified as medically underserved by the Commissioner of Health

The services maintained must meet the same requirements as a general acute care hospital under N.J.A.C.8:33-3.1

Applies retroactively to any hospital relocations approved by the Department of Health within 12 months prior to the bill's effective date

Commissioner of Health is directed to adopt rules and regulations to implement the act