2023 New York Laws › PBH - Public Health › Article 28 - Hospitals › 2801-G - Community Forum on Hospital Closure.

§ 2801-g. Community forum on hospital closure. 1. No later than thirty
days  after  the  closure  of a general hospital, the commissioner shall
hold a public community forum for the purpose of obtaining public  input
concerning  the  anticipated impact of the general hospital's closure on
access to health care services by members of the surrounding  community,
including  but not limited to recipients of medical assistance for needy
persons, the uninsured, and underserved  populations,  and  options  and
proposals  to ameliorate such anticipated impact. The commissioner shall
afford community members, health care providers, labor  unions,  payers,
businesses  and  consumers  a  reasonable  opportunity  to  speak  about
relevant matters at such community forum.
2. No later than sixty days after holding a community  forum  pursuant
to  subdivision  one  of  this  section,  the  commissioner  shall  make
available  to  the  public  on  the  department's  website   information
regarding:
(a) the anticipated impact of the general hospital's closure on access
to  health  care  services  by  members  of  the  surrounding community,
including but not limited to recipients of medical assistance for  needy
persons, the uninsured, and underserved populations;
(b)  specific  measures the department and other parties have taken or
will take to ameliorate such anticipated impact; and
(c) any  further  recommendations  regarding  access  to  health  care
services in communities impacted by the general hospital's closure.
3.  A community forum conducted pursuant to this section shall be held
at a location within a reasonable  proximity  to  the  general  hospital
subject  to  closure, and shall be announced no less than ten days prior
to the date of such community forum.
4. At least thirty days prior to a general hospital  applying  to  the
federal  centers  for  medicare  and medicaid services to convert from a
general hospital with inpatients to a rural emergency hospital under  42
USC  1395x(kkk),  or  successor  provisions,  such hospital shall hold a
public community  forum  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  public  input
concerning the anticipated impact of the hospital's closure of inpatient
units, including but not limited to, the impact on recipients of medical
assistance  for  needy persons, the uninsured, people with disabilities,
and medically underserved populations,  and  options  and  proposals  to
ameliorate  such  anticipated  impact.  The hospital shall notify health
care providers, labor unions, the congressional representative  for  the
district  in  which the facility is located, the county executive of the
county in which the facility is  located,  and  the  state  senator  and
assembly  member  representing  the  area  within  which the facility is
located of the date, time, and location  of  the  community  forum.  The
hospital  shall  afford all public participants a reasonable opportunity
to speak about relevant matters at such community forum.  Prior  to  any
community  forum  and  as  soon  as  practicable,  the hospital shall be
required to:
(a) notify the office of mental  health  and  the  local  director  of
community  services  in  the event such general hospital has psychiatric
inpatient beds licensed under article thirty-one of the  mental  hygiene
law  or  designated  pursuant to section 9.39 of the mental hygiene law,
and
(b) notify the office of addiction services and supports in the  event
such  general  hospital  has  inpatient substance use disorder treatment
programs or inpatient chemical dependence  treatment  programs  licensed
under  article  thirty-two  of  the mental hygiene law. The commissioner
shall also accept comments submitted in writing at such public forum and
by mail within at least two weeks following the community forum.