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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Print number 5972a
- Amend and recommit to rules
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the reduction of hours or closure of a hospital emergency department
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5972A
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the reduction of hours or closure of a hospital emergency department
Purpose
To require that public participation is made available when reductions to a hospital's emergency department hours are being considered by the New York State Department of Health. The legislation also requires financial accountability on the part of hospital executives when such a reduction is requested.
Summary of provisions
Requires a public hearing by the New York State Department of Health in the affected community of a proposed reduction in hours to a hospital's emergency room. Also prohibits the issuing of hospital executive bonuses at and immediately after the time of the request to the Department of Health.
Justification
Emergency departments are a basic service provided by a hospital to the surrounding community. In light of recent requests by a number of hospitals to the Department of Health to reduce hours at their emergency department and given negative effects such a decision would have on the community, it is important that a public hearing be held in the hospital's geographic area and input be received by those who would be affected.
Furthermore, hospitals that have submitted aforementioned requests to reduce hours at their emergency department often claim it is out of financial necessity. If that is the case, bonuses to the hospital's executives should be prohibited at and immediately after the time of the request to the Department of Health, If there is no funding for basic service such as an emergency department, it is irresponsible to suggest that funding is available for hospital executive bonuses.
Legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
Nominal cost to Department of Health to hold public hearings.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.