2006 Minnesota Statutes

144.552 PUBLIC INTEREST REVIEW.
(a) The following entities must submit a plan to the commissioner:
(1) a hospital seeking to increase its number of licensed beds; or
(2) an organization seeking to obtain a hospital license and notified by the commissioner
under section 144.553, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), that it is subject to this section.
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.
Prior to making a recommendation, the commissioner shall conduct a public hearing in the
affected hospital service area to take testimony from interested persons.
(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.
History: 2004 c 231 s 2; 2006 c 249 s 2