1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 591 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2534
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Margaret R. Scarsdale
_________________
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 access to hospital services.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex1/10/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk3/3/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 591 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2534
By Representative Scarsdale of Pepperell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2534) of
Margaret R. Scarsdale and Michael D. Brady that the Department of Public Health create a
process for state receivership for certain hospitals or free-standing clinics that provides essential
health services. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2143 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act preserving access to hospital services.
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 adding at the end of section 51G the following new section:
3 (7) The department, in conjunction with other state departments or agencies, shall
4promulgate regulations creating a process for state receivership for any hospital or free-standing
5clinic that provides essential health services and (a) closes without providing the required 90-day
6notice or (b) closes a hospital or free-standing clinic following a determination by the department
7that a closure would constitute a discontinuation of services necessary for preserving access and
8health status in the hospital or free-standing clinic’s service area. These regulations shall include
9a mechanism and source for funding said receivership.