S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5972--A
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
October 28, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sen. LARKIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the reduction of
hours or closure of a hospital emergency department
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2801-h to read as follows:
S 2801-H. PUBLIC HEARING ON HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT REDUCTION OF
HOURS OR CLOSURE. 1. NO LATER THAN SIX MONTHS FROM RECEIVING A PROPOSAL
FROM A GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR THE REDUCTION OF HOURS OR CLOSURE OF AN
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF SUCH GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING PUBLIC INPUT CONCERN-
ING THE ANTICIPATED IMPACT OF THE REDUCTION OF HOURS OR GENERAL HOSPI-
TAL'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CLOSURE ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES BY
MEMBERS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
RECIPIENTS OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY PERSONS, THE UNINSURED, AND
UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, AND OPTIONS AND PROPOSALS TO AMELIORATE SUCH
ANTICIPATED IMPACT. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL AFFORD COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, LABOR UNIONS, PAYERS, BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS A
REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT RELEVANT MATTERS AT SUCH COMMUNITY
FORUM.
2. A PUBLIC HEARING CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE HELD
AT A LOCATION WITHIN A REASONABLE PROXIMITY TO SUCH GENERAL HOSPITAL
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SUBJECT TO REDUCTION OF HOURS OR CLOSURE, AND SHALL
BE ANNOUNCED NO LESS THAN TEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF SUCH PUBLIC
HEARING.
3. NO HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE BONUSES SHALL BE GIVEN IN A CALENDAR YEAR IN
WHICH A REQUEST TO REDUCE THE HOURS OR CLOSE A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11932-04-3
S. 5972--A 2
DEPARTMENT IS SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT, AN APPLICATION IS IN THE PROCESS
OF BEING REVIEWED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE THE HOURS OR CLOSE A
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR IN THE CALENDAR YEAR OF AND THE CALEN-
DAR YEAR FOLLOWING A FINAL DECISION BY THE DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE THE
HOURS OR CLOSE SUCH HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
S 2. Any hospital emergency department reduction of hours or closure
pending before the department of health shall be delayed and subject to
the provisions of section 2801-h of the public health law, as added by
section one of this act.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.