Requires every general hospital to have a community advisory board

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law and the New York city health and hospitals corporation act, in relation to hospital community advisory boards

Purpose or general idea of bill

To require every general hospital to have a community advisory board and community service plan.

Summary of specific provisions

Sec. 1 amends PHL § 2803-1 to: extend the current requirement that "voluntary non-profit" hospitals have a community service plan to apply to every general hospital, including public hospitals and for-profit hospitals; require hospitals to involve its community advisory board in the preparation of its community service plan; and require every hospital to have a community advisory board (CAB), similar to the current requirement for New York City public hospitals.

Sec. 2 amends the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Act (Chapter 1016 of the laws of 1969) to require that HHC hospital CAB membership lists be filed with the State Department of Health (as the bill requires for other hospital CABs), and to delete the outdated $25 limit on expense reimbursement for CAB members.

Sec. 3 provides for an effective date 270 days after enactment.

Justification

General hospitals are vitally important institutions for communities and should be responsive to community needs, whether they are non-profit, for profit, or public institutions. Virtually every non-public hospital is heavily dependent on public funding. With public licensure and public funding comes an obligation to serve the public. Public regulations, financial incentives, and, in the case of public hospitals, public ownership can only go so far in making sure hospitals are mindful of and serve community needs. New York State wisely requires voluntary non-profit hospitals to periodically adopt and update a community service plan. It is appropriate for every hospital to follow this model. The New York City's public hospitals are required by state law to have community advisory boards. All hospitals and communities would benefit from having a community advisory board.

Prior legislative history

S.4817 of 2013-2014 (Hoylman): Died in Health A.4525 of 2013-2014 (Gottfried): Passed Assembly

Fiscal implications

Minimal. Community advisory board members would not be paid, but may be reimbursed by the hospital for their expenses.

Effective date

270 days after it becomes a law.