H 553

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1H.553
2 Introduced by Representative Yacovone of Morristown
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Health; hospitals; hospital budgets; Green Mountain Care Board;
6public hearings; administrative functions
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require
8 hospitals to hold public hearings on their proposed budgets and to submit a
9 summary of the public comments received on the proposed budget to the
10 Green Mountain Care Board as part of the hospital budget review process. The
11 bill would also allow the Green Mountain Care Board to order hospitals to
12 align or coordinate their administrative functions in order to maximize
13 efficiencies and contain administrative costs.
14    An act relating to hospital public hearings and coordination of hospital
15    administrative functions
16 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
17 Sec. 1. 18 V.S.A. § 9452 is added to read:
18 § 9452. HOSPITAL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT; PUBLIC HEARING
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1    (a) At least 30 days prior to submitting a proposed budget to the Green
2 Mountain Care Board for review under this subchapter, each hospital shall
3 hold a public hearing in one or more of the communities in its service area to:
4(1) explain the proposed hospital budget under development for the
5 upcoming fiscal year, including explaining any services that the hospital
6 intends to add, reduce, or eliminate during the year; and
7(2) provide meaningful opportunities for the public to provide input on
8 the proposal budget and changes in hospital services for the hospital to
9 consider as it completes its budget proposal.
10    (b) The hospital shall submit a summary of the public comments received
11 during the hearing or hearings, as well as copies of any written comments
12 submitted to the hospital regarding its proposed budget, to the Green Mountain
13 Care Board as part of the information required pursuant to section 9454 of this
14 chapter.
15 Sec. 2. 18 V.S.A. § 9454 is amended to read:
16 § 9454. HOSPITALS; DUTIES
17    (a) Hospitals shall file the following information at the time and place and
18 in the manner established by the Board:
19(1) a budget for the forthcoming fiscal year;
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1(2) financial information, including costs of operation, revenues, assets,
2 liabilities, fund balances, other income, rates, charges, units of services, and
3 wage and salary data;
4(3) scope-of-service and volume-of-service information, including
5 inpatient services, outpatient services, and ancillary services by type of service
6 provided;
7(4) utilization information;
8(5) new hospital services and programs proposed for the forthcoming
9 fiscal year;
10(6) costs associated with implementing their security plan pursuant to
11 section 1911b of this title, including capital investments, program operation,
12 and staff;
13(7) known depreciation schedules on existing buildings, a four-year
14 capital expenditure projection, and a one-year capital expenditure plan; and
15(8) a summary of the public input received by the hospital during the
16 public hearing or hearings held pursuant to section 9453 of this chapter, along
17 with copies of any written comments the hospital received on its proposed
18 budget; and
19(9) such other information as the Board may require.
20***
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1 Sec. 3. 18 V.S.A. § 9456 is amended to read:
2 § 9456. BUDGET REVIEW
3***
4    (e)(1) The Board, in consultation with the Vermont Program for Quality in
5 Health Care, shall utilize mechanisms to measure hospital costs, quality, and
6 access and alignment with the Statewide Health Care Delivery Strategic Plan,
7 once established.
8***
9(6) The Board may order one or more Vermont hospitals to align or
10 coordinate, or both, their administrative functions with one or more other
11 Vermont hospitals in order to maximize efficiencies and contain administrative
12 costs.
13***
14 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
15    This act shall take effect passage.
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