1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; requiring a study of the hospital 
  1.3             moratorium. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [HOSPITAL MORATORIUM STUDY.] 
  1.6      (a) Utilizing existing resources, the commissioner of 
  1.7   health, working with the Minnesota Hospital Association and 
  1.8   other affected parties, shall study and report to the chairs of 
  1.9   the senate health and family security committee and health, 
  1.10  human services and corrections budget division and the house of 
  1.11  representatives health and human services policy committee and 
  1.12  health and human services finance committee by January 15, 2005, 
  1.13  on the moratorium on hospital beds.  The study and report shall: 
  1.14     (1) evaluate the moratorium's impact on access, cost, and 
  1.15  quality of care; 
  1.16     (2) recommend appropriate criteria to be considered by the 
  1.17  legislature in judging applications for moratorium exceptions; 
  1.18     (3) assess the impact of "niche" and ambulatory services on 
  1.19  a system of controlling capacity; 
  1.20     (4) identify demographic and health care delivery changes 
  1.21  that have occurred since the inception of the moratorium, 
  1.22  projected future trends in technology, and their impact on 
  1.23  future inpatient hospitals' utilization and future demand for 
  1.24  inpatient services; and 
  2.1      (5) include a comprehensive national survey of inpatient 
  2.2   and outpatient capacity controls. 
  2.3      (b) As an outcome of the study, the commissioner shall 
  2.4   recommend: 
  2.5      (1) criteria for judging exception requests; 
  2.6      (2) processes to be used in considering exception requests; 
  2.7   and 
  2.8      (3) other changes in the moratorium law needed to work with 
  2.9   future trends and demographic changes. 
  2.10     (c) A progress report shall be presented to the chairs of 
  2.11  the senate health and family security committee and health, 
  2.12  human services and corrections budget division and the house of 
  2.13  representatives health and human services policy committee and 
  2.14  health and human services finance committee by March 15, 2004.