Protecting Communities from Hospital Closures Act of 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 27, 2020
Protecting Communities from Hospital Closures Act of 2020
This bill prohibits hospitals from closing unless pursuant to a plan approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Specifically, a hospital must (1) notify HHS before closing most or all of its units or departments or specific units or departments where the closure may significantly impact the health and welfare of a community (e.g., emergency departments or labor and delivery units), and (2) provide a closure plan that addresses specified issues related to continuity of patient care and the health and safety needs of the community served by the departments or units. HHS may reject, approve, or require modification of the plan.
The bill provides for certain judicial remedies in the event of closures that occur without an approved plan or in violation of an approved plan.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Jan 3, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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