The Washington state Senate passed a bill last week that would allow the attorney general to reject hospital mergers perceived to limit care access, including reproductive, gender-affirming, emergency and end-of-life care. Under the act, the attorney general would determine through a “public process” whether proposed mergers would detrimentally affect accessible and affordable care for at least 10 years following a deal. The AG would be able to conditionally approve or reject transactions. If passed by the state House, the law may reduce tie-ups between secular and religious hospitals, which operated 45% of Washington beds as of 2021, according to a report from the Seattle Times.
Read the full article: Washington State Bill Seeks to Regulate Hospital Mergers, Care Access //
Source: https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/washington-state-bill-regulate-hospital-mergers-care-access/707374