The "Rural Health Care Accessibility Act" aims to streamline the establishment of certain health care facilities near critical access hospitals by exempting them from existing notice and consent requirements. Specifically, the bill allows ambulatory surgical centers, emergency medical care centers, birthing centers, drop-in or walk-in care centers, dialysis centers, and special health care services to be established within 15 miles of a critical access hospital without the need for prior written notice to the hospital's chief executive officer.

To implement this change, the bill amends RSA 151:4-a, II(a) by removing the requirement for notice regarding the establishment of ambulatory surgical centers, emergency medical care centers, birthing centers, drop-in or walk-in care centers, dialysis centers, and special health care services. The new legal language replaces the previous requirement with a more streamlined process, thereby facilitating quicker access to health care services in rural areas. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 151:4-a