Senate committee hears bill requiring notice to critical access hospitals when nearby facilities propose to open

Senate Bill 613 would require entities seeking to establish specified health facilities—ambulatory surgical centers, urgent care/emergency medical care centers, birthing centers, dialysis centers and other specialized services—within 15 miles of a critical access hospital to provide certified written notice to that hospital’s chief executive officer describing the proposed facility and services.

Sponsor testimony emphasized that advanced notice allows critical access hospitals to assess potential impacts on staffing, patient volumes and financial stability in rural communities where hospitals operate on thin margins. Supporters pointed to federal rural health transformation funding (the transcript referenced $24 million awarded to the state) and argued the notice requirement helps safeguard those investments and local access to care. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association testified in support, citing recent negative operating margins at several hospitals.

Opponents during public comment and questioning called the proposal an unnecessary barrier that could discourage competition, arguing that if a community needs a service, market forces will decide and that facilities without demand will fail. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is limited to notice and review—not a prohibition on entry.

Committee members requested clarification on the bill’s breadth (the transcript shows concern about a catch-all "specialized services" category) and discussed safeguards to prevent the notice requirement from becoming a de facto veto. The hearing closed without an immediate final vote; committee later moved certain items in executive session but the transcript records the SB 613 hearing concluded with testimony and questions.