An Act relative to hospital closures and health planning

This bill establishes a new Health Planning Council within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to develop and update a statewide health plan every two years. The council, including state agency leaders and governor-appointed members, must assess regional healthcare needs across 15 planning areas using data on chronic disease, population, and resources, while requiring public input through hearings and online comments. It strengthens oversight of hospital closures by mandating hospitals report proposed closures to the Department of Public Health, triggering a review by the Health Policy Commission, and requires the Center for Health Information and Analysis to identify hospitals in financial distress every 120 days. These provisions directly affect hospitals, healthcare providers, state agencies, and the public by creating structured processes for planning, transparency, and intervention around hospital sustainability.