Health Care Professionals to Testify Sept. 29 on Legislation to Safeguard Essential Health Services
The ongoing health care crisis in Massachusetts involving closures of hospital emergency departments, behavioral health programs, maternity units, and more will be discussed during a hearing at the Massachusetts State…
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The ongoing health care crisis in Massachusetts involving closures of hospital emergency departments, behavioral health programs, maternity units, and more will be discussed during a hearing at the Massachusetts State House on Monday, Sept. 29, at 9 a.m., in Hearing Room A2.
Nurses, health care professionals, advocates, and other medical professionals are set to testify in support of two bills that would bolster the state's ability to safeguard access to health care services and ensure hospital services remain open if the state's Department of Public Health believes they are necessary.
Since 2009, more than 40 hospitals or units have closed in the state.
"Massachusetts law has failed patients for too long by allowing corporations to close essential health care services even though public health officials deem them necessary," said MNA President and Practicing ICU Nurse Katie Murphy in a news release. "Access to essential services has declined across the Commonwealth because our health care system follows a corporate, profit-driven model, and our state has limited powers to ensure patients can receive necessary care."
According to the release, the Act Assessing Health Care Access would provide for the following:
- Extending the official notice period before any proposed closure or discontinuation of essential services goes forward
- Requiring hospitals to notify and invite public comment from affected municipalities
- Authorizing the Attorney General to pursue an injunction to maintain essential services during the notice period
- Prohibiting hospitals from expanding or obtaining new licenses for three years if they drop essential services without approval
- Prohibiting closures of beds, units, or facilities during any declared health care state of emergency
An Act Preserving Access to Hospital Services would require the DPH to create a process for organizing state receivership of a hospital or free-standing medical clinic that is slated for closure.
