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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1538 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2445
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Higgins and Margaret R. Scarsdale
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act preserving essential services in our hospitals.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/15/2025Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex1/15/2025Sally P. Kerans13th Essex1/21/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/10/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1538 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2445
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Scarsdale of Pepperell, a petition (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 2445) of Natalie M. Higgins, Margaret R. Scarsdale and others relative to
essential services in hospitals. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4230 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act preserving essential services in our hospitals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by striking subsection (4) of section 51G and inserting in place thereof the following
3section:-
4 (4) Any hospital shall inform the department 90 days prior to the proposed closing of the
5hospital or the proposed discontinuance of any essential health service provided therein. The
6department shall by regulation define ''essential health service'' for the purposes of this section.
7The department shall, in the event that a hospital proposes to discontinue an essential health
8service or services, conduct a public hearing on the closure of said essential services or of the
9hospital. The department shall determine whether any such discontinued services are necessary 2 of 2
10for preserving access and health status in the hospital's service area and if the department so
11determines, the essential health service shall not be proposed for closure for three years.