AB 1895 (Weber, D-La Mesa)

AB 1895 would have required general acute care hospitals whose perinatal unit expects challenges in the next six months that may result in a reduction or loss of perinatal services to report specified information to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). This information would have included, but would not have been limited to, the number of medical staff and employees working in the perinatal unit and the number of deliveries per month over the past 12 months, the factors that have caused challenges in the perinatal unit and what is needed for the perinatal unit to remain open, and whether state intervention is needed. The information provided by hospitals to HCAI would have been forwarded to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). This information would have been kept confidential to the extent applicable by law. The bill also would have required HCAI, CDPH, and DHCS to assess the potential impact to the community if the perinatal unit closes, as well as develop recommendations for resolving the perinatal unit’s challenges. If the hospital closes its perinatal unit, the hospital would have still been required to provide public notice of the closure as required by Health and Safety Code Section 1255.25. Additionally, hospitals would have been required to post the results of the state’s community impact assessment on its internet website 90 days in advance of the proposed closure. The bill also would have required hospitals to permit public comment on the closure for 60 days after the notice is given and hold at least one public hearing.