An Act assessing health care access

This bill (HD 2593) mandates a study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in collaboration with health policy agencies, to examine access to essential health services in the state's acute care and in-patient psychiatric hospitals. The study must analyze current service availability, historical discontinuations of services since 1992, hospital closures, projected regional needs over the next decade, and financial factors that could lead to service reductions. It will also review how other states manage similar issues and identify vulnerable services at risk of being stopped within three years. The goal is to provide data-driven recommendations to ensure consistent access to essential health services across all regions of Massachusetts.