What's happening
This bill requires the health commissioner to study and recommend minimum emergency room bed requirements and access standards statewide.
Why it matters
Directly addresses emergency room overcrowding and wait times. by assessing if current bed numbers are meeting patient demand and establishing new minimums where needed, potentially improving patient care during crises or surges.
Considers geographic and transportation disparities. the study will look at how far patients must travel and factors like population density and public transit, which could lead to recommendations that improve ER access for rural and underserved communities.
Could shape future hospital planning and funding. by providing evidence-based recommendations on both minimum bed requirements and maximum travel distances, influencing how resources are allocated and potentially prompting hospital expansions or new facilities.
Creates a statewide standard for emergency care access. that, if implemented, could reduce inequities between regions and ensure all New Yorkers have more consistent and reliable access to emergency medical services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Emergency Room Bed Numbers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8161
IN SENATE
April 13, 2020
Introduced by Sen. RAMOS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT in relation to requiring the commissioner of health to conduct a study relating to the number of emergency room beds
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. (a) The commissioner of health is hereby authorized and directed to study the number of emergency room beds in the state and to establish minimum numbers of beds required.
(b) The study shall include, but not be limited to: the current number of emergency room beds in the state; the minimum number of emergency room beds required to adequately meet the needs of patients; the distance patients need to travel to access emergency room services, including the maximum distance patients shall be expected to travel to access such services; and the number of emergency rooms within a specific area. The study shall also take into consideration population density, travel time to emergency rooms, proximity to other emergency rooms, public transportation routes, and such other factors the commissioner deems appropriate.
(c) The commissioner of health shall make recommendations based upon the findings of such study relating to, but not limited to, the minimum number of emergency room beds which shall be required per capita, the maximum distance patients shall be expected to travel to access emergency room services, and such other recommendations such commissioner deems appropriate.
(d) The commissioner of health shall submit a report including recommendations and findings based on this study to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and the chairs of the senate and assembly standing committees on health no later than December 31, 2020.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09374-02-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act in relation to requiring the commissioner of health to conduct a study relating to the number of emergency room beds
Purpose of bill
To determine and establish the number of emergency beds required per capita, the maximum distance patients shall be expected to travel to access emergency services, and other such relevant information.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill directs the commissioner of health to study the number of emergency room beds in the state and establish the minimum number of beds required. The study will also assess the distance patients need to travel to access emergency room services. From these findings, the commissioner shall make recommendations ranging from the number of emergency room beds required per capita to the maximum distance patients shall be expected to travel to access emergency services. A report based on this study shall be submitted to the Gover- nor, the Temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly and Chairs of the Senate and Assembly standing committees on health no later than December 31, 2020.
Section 2 relates to the effective date.
Justification
Accessing quality health care should not be a burden. Yet, many New Yorkers faced with a medical emergency may find it difficult to receive adequate care. Overcrowded emergency departments resulting from too few beds may cause patients to wait far longer than what is appropriate.
Also, a hospital's proximity can be an issue for patients who must trav- el great lengths to access those services. In situations as serious and as time-sensitive as a medical emergency, distance and wait times should not be of concern. The availability of emergency room beds are bound to worsen as New York's population ages and hospitals continue to close.
Aside from keeping us better informed, a report by the commissioner of health would serve as a first step to addressing this pressing health issue.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implication
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.