2004 Minnesota Statutes

     144.552 Public interest review. 

    (a) A hospital seeking to increase its number of licensed 
 beds or an organization seeking to obtain a hospital license 
 must submit a plan to the commissioner of health.  The plan must 
 include information that includes an explanation of how the 
 expansion will meet the public's interest.  When submitting a 
 plan to the commissioner, an applicant shall pay the 
 commissioner for the commissioner's cost of reviewing the plan, 
 as determined by the commissioner and notwithstanding section 
 16A.1283.  Money received by the commissioner under this section 
 is appropriated to the commissioner for the purpose of 
 administering this section. 

    (b) Plans submitted under this section shall include 
 detailed information necessary for the commissioner to review 
 the plan and reach a finding.  The commissioner may request 
 additional information from the hospital submitting a plan under 
 this section and from others affected by the plan that the 
 commissioner deems necessary to review the plan and make a 
 finding. 

    (c) The commissioner shall review the plan and, within 90 
 days, but no more than six months if extenuating circumstances 
 apply, issue a finding on whether the plan is in the public 
 interest.  In making the recommendation, the commissioner shall 
 consider issues including but not limited to: 

    (1) whether the new hospital or hospital beds are needed to 
 provide timely access to care or access to new or improved 
 services; 

    (2) the financial impact of the new hospital or hospital 
 beds on existing acute-care hospitals that have emergency 
 departments in the region; 

    (3) how the new hospital or hospital beds will affect the 
 ability of existing hospitals in the region to maintain existing 
 staff; 

    (4) the extent to which the new hospital or hospital beds 
 will provide services to nonpaying or low-income patients 
 relative to the level of services provided to these groups by 
 existing hospitals in the region; and 

    (5) the views of affected parties. 

    (d) Upon making a recommendation under paragraph (c), the 
 commissioner shall provide a copy of the recommendation to the 
 chairs of the house and senate committees having jurisdiction 
 over health and human services policy and finance. 

    HIST: 2004 c 231 s 2