Rural hospital transfer to major hospital; prescribe certain conditions on such transfer when doctor deems medically necessary.

HB 233 would require rural hospitals (defined as those with 50 or fewer general beds) to transfer patients to major hospitals (over 50 beds) when a doctor at the rural facility deems it medically necessary. The bill mandates the State Department of Health to create rules defining specific situations considered medically necessary for transfers, considering factors like care disparities, chronic conditions, emergencies, and efficient transfer processes. It directly affects patients at rural hospitals and the hospitals themselves, establishing a formal transfer process based on medical judgment. The bill was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.