An Act to protect essential health services

This bill requires hospitals to provide detailed notifications before closing essential health services, including reasons for the closure, economic analysis, and clinical safety assessments. The state health department gains authority to deny proposed closures if the service can be maintained safely without harming the hospital's financial viability or public health. It directly affects hospitals considering service discontinuances, ensuring decisions prioritize patient safety and community health needs. The law creates a formal review process to prevent unnecessary closures that could disrupt critical care access.