Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing a bill that aims to provide more oversight for hospital acquisitions and major consolidations.
Four things to know:
1. The state has seen 15 hospital closures in the past five years and all but one of those closures was preceded by a change in ownership, merger or acquisition, according to an Oct. 11 Pennsylvania Senate Republicans news release.
2. Current law limits what the state attorney general's office can review in advance of these deals and there is no notification requirement, according to the release.
3. The legislation would require hospitals and health systems to provide advance state-level notification and accompanying documentation of proposed mergers and acquisitions that exceed $10 million, similar to federal requirements.
4. The bill is headed to the full Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.