Sen. Baldwin introduces 'HSHS Act' to protect communities from sudden hospital closures

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKBT) -- Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced legislation she says would protect communities from sudden hospital closures.

The Hospital Stability and Health Services (HSHS) Act would require hospitals that are closing to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at least 90 days in advance of closure or discontinuation of services.

During that 90-day notification period, hospitals would not be allowed discontinue services to patients unless continuation of those services would be dangerous to staff or patients.

The bill is a response to the recent closures of two HSHS hospitals and over a dozen other clinics in the Chippewa Valley earlier this year.

"If a big hospital is going to shut down in one of our communities, they should help ensure patients don’t slip through the cracks when they are gone," Senator Baldwin said.

Governor Tony Evers threw his support behind the bill Thursday, saying it goes a long way for transparency when a hospital announces a closure.

"I’m grateful Senator Baldwin is working at the federal level to make sure Wisconsin patients aren’t left in the lurch and patients and communities are protected from abrupt hospital closures like the ones that happened in Western Wisconsin," Evers said.

Under the new legislation, the U.S. HHS could determine whether a closure would negatively impact access to care, and require the hospital submit a plan to maintain services through other means. Those mitigation plans would be subject to public comment and community input, according to Baldwin.

The bill also requires reports every two years on hospital closure trends and health care system capacity.

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