State takeover floated to prevent Massachusetts hospital closures

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow the state to temporarily take control of a hospital that wants to end essential services, NPR affiliate WGBH reported July 6. 

The bill would require the state's public health department to create a receivership process for hospitals and clinics that close either without providing 90 days of notice or after the department determines the closure "would constitute a discontinuation of services necessary for preserving access and health status in the hospital or free-standing clinic's service area," according to the report.

Three acute care hospitals have closed in Massachusetts since 2014 despite the health department determining their services were necessary, the report said. 

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