Lawmakers to Hold June 25 Hearing on Bill to Study Access to Essential Healthcare Services Across Massachusetts as Hospital Closures Devastate Patients and Communities – Longview News-Journal

Report on Massachusetts Healthcare Access Legislation and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

In response to ongoing hospital closures and the loss of essential health services in Massachusetts, a legislative hearing is scheduled to discuss An Act Assessing Healthcare Access (SD1058/HD2593). This bill aims to evaluate the current state of healthcare infrastructure, identify access gaps, and project future needs across the state. The initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), by striving to ensure equitable access to healthcare services for all communities.

Legislative Hearing Details

• What: Hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Health
• When: Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Virtual hearing accessible via livestream at https://malegislature.gov/
• Legislation: An Act Assessing Healthcare Access (SD1058/HD2593)
• Sponsors: Senator Jacob Oliveira and Representative Ted Philips
• Testifying: Amy Gagnon, RN (Leominster Hospital); Alan P. Sager, PhD (Boston University School of Public Health)

Purpose and Scope of the Bill

The bill mandates the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to conduct a comprehensive statewide study with the following objectives:

1. Analyze existing healthcare capacity and infrastructure.
2. Measure future healthcare needs of the population.
3. Assess the cumulative impact of over 40 hospital and unit closures since 2009, including those dating back to the 1990s.
4. Evaluate the effects of staffing shortages and reductions in critical services such as maternity care and behavioral health treatment.

This initiative supports SDG 3 by promoting healthy lives and well-being for all ages and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by ensuring resilient healthcare systems within communities.

Context and Challenges

• Massachusetts has experienced a surge in hospital closures driven by financial challenges, notably the recent shutdowns of Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center.
• Despite DPH rulings declaring some closures harmful to public health, enforcement has been limited, highlighting gaps in current legislation.
• These closures disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including mothers, infants, and individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, raising concerns related to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Statements from Stakeholders

Katie Murphy, President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association and practicing ICU nurse, emphasized the need for transparency and patient-centered healthcare planning:

“We desperately need more transparency about the healthcare needs of Massachusetts patients and their ability to access care. This bill is a first step in putting patients rather than profits at the center of our healthcare planning.”

Related Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) Legislation

An Act Relative to the Closing of Hospital Essential Services (S. 1503)

Sponsors: Senator Julian Cyr; Representatives Michael Kushmerek and Christine Barber

• Extends the official notice period to the Department of Public Health before hospital or service closures.
• Requires hospitals to notify and allow comment from affected municipalities prior to closure announcements.
• Empowers the Attorney General to seek injunctions to maintain essential services during the notice period.
• Prohibits hospitals from applying for licensure or expansion for three years following discontinuation of essential services unless restored or modified plans are approved.
• Prohibits closure of essential health services during public health emergencies.

An Act Preserving Access to Hospital Services (S. 1574)

Sponsors: Senator Paul Mark; Representative Margaret Scarsdale

• Establishes a process for state receivership of hospitals or clinics pending closure.
• Addresses the lack of mechanisms to keep hospitals open when deemed necessary by the Department of Public Health.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Ensuring access to quality essential healthcare services and promoting mental health and well-being.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Addressing disparities in healthcare access caused by hospital closures affecting vulnerable populations.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Strengthening healthcare infrastructure resilience within Massachusetts communities.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Enhancing transparency, accountability, and enforcement in healthcare decision-making processes.

About the Massachusetts Nurses Association

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth, representing 26,000 members. The MNA advocates for high standards of nursing practice, promotes nurses’ welfare, and lobbies on healthcare issues affecting both nurses and the public, contributing to the achievement of SDG 3 and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Additional Information

For further details and to view the original content, please visit the official press release at PR Newswire.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article focuses on healthcare access, hospital closures, and essential health services, which directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The discussion on access gaps and the impact of hospital closures on vulnerable populations implies a concern for reducing inequalities in healthcare access.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The legislative efforts to improve transparency, public enforcement, and regulatory oversight over hospital closures relate to building effective, accountable institutions.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 3 Targets:
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential healthcare services.
   • Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and recruitment, development, training, and retention of the health workforce.
2. SDG 10 Targets:
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, or other status.
3. SDG 16 Targets:
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Indicators for SDG 3:
   • Number of hospital closures and unit closures over time (since 1990s and since 2009 specifically).
   • Availability and accessibility of essential health services such as maternity care and behavioral health treatment.
   • Healthcare workforce capacity and staffing levels (addressing shortages).
   • Proportion of population with access to essential healthcare services.
2. Indicators for SDG 10:
   • Measurement of access gaps in healthcare across different communities and vulnerable populations.
3. Indicators for SDG 16:
   • Existence and enforcement of laws regulating hospital closures and essential service discontinuations.
   • Transparency measures such as notification periods and public comment opportunities before closures.
   • Number of cases where Attorney General intervenes to maintain essential services.
   • Processes established for state receivership to prevent hospital closures.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news-journal.com