An Act relative to hospital closures and health planning

This bill creates a new Health Planning Council within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to develop and update a statewide health plan. The council will include state officials, appointed experts, and an advisory committee representing diverse healthcare stakeholders, while also establishing fifteen regional planning areas to assess local needs and resources. Key provisions require the plan to identify shortages and excesses in healthcare services and recommend mechanisms to rebalance resources over a five-year period. Additionally, the bill mandates that proposed hospital closures or service discontinuations be treated as material changes requiring formal notification and review. The legislation also ensures data sharing between agencies to support these planning efforts while maintaining medical privacy protections.