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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 1, 2022 01:41 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Katie J. Muth |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Hospital Acquisitions and Price Transparency |
| I will soon be reintroducing SB 1322 from the 2021-2022 session, companion legislation to a bill introduced by Representative Dan Williams, Representative Kristine Howard, and Representative Melissa Shusterman, which would require approval from the Department of Health (DOH) before a hospital or hospital system can be purchased. The recent closure of two hospitals in Chester County – Jennersville and Brandywine – came as a shock to many members of the community. Tower Health Medical Company had hoped the planned purchase by Canyon Atlantic Partners would allow the buildings to stay open as acute care hospitals, thus saving Tower Health from impending financial fallout. Unfortunately, the deal fell through, resulting in Tower Health’s decision to close down Jennersville and Brandywine for good. In the midst of a global pandemic, these closures were especially worrisome. Now, for Chester County residents, the nearest hospitals in the area are between 13 to 18 miles away. We, as legislators, need to do better to protect our residents and front-line workers from loss of care or employment due to corporate greed. This bill would require DOH to review applications, hold public hearings, and prepare impact statements on the effect of the buying and selling of health care services that the hospital or hospital system is providing. Further, this bill would require price transparency from hospitals or hospital systems so that patients have full access to the costs of items and services provided. Please join me in sponsoring this safety measure to ensure both lives and livelihoods are not at risk because of snap decision-making by irresponsible corporations. |
Introduced as SB83