Bill Would Require State AG To Evaluate Impact Of Hospital Closure
Recent and proposed hospital closures have brought attention to the issue. “Closing hospitals and emergency rooms worsen health outcomes and increase deaths,” says the legislation's author state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley).
East Bay Times:
East Bay Legislators Fight Back Against Hospital Closures
Bay Area politicians unveiled a new plan aimed at stopping a wave of hospital closures in California, including Berkeley’s Alta Bates Hospital, slated for closure as early as 2020, by giving the state Attorney General the authority to review the impact of the decision before allowing it to move forward. The legislation, authored by state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), focuses on not-for-profit hospitals, such as Kaiser, Alta Bates and Summit. Under current law, California hospitals are only required to give a 90-day notice to the Department of Public Health prior to shutting down operations. If passed, the hospital would also be required to hold at least one public hearing. (Ioffee, 2/27)
