relative to emergency medical care provided at freestanding hospital emergency facilities.

HB 1653 requires freestanding hospital emergency facilities (FHEFs) to allow patients receiving emergency care to choose their transfer destination hospital, rather than being limited to the parent hospital that owns or operates the FHEF. The bill mandates that FHEFs provide this choice when a transfer is medically necessary and the selected hospital can treat the patient's condition, while prohibiting practices like conditioning treatment on transfers to affiliated hospitals or steering patients toward the parent facility. It also requires FHEFs to document the patient's transfer preference and forbids exclusive contracts with emergency medical services that restrict transfer options. These provisions aim to protect patient autonomy, prevent anti-competitive behavior, and ensure continuity of care during emergency transfers.