HAP Warns of Harmful Pa. Mergers and Acquisitions Bill

October 14, 2024

In a new letter, HAP and the Pennsylvania hospital community strongly opposed new state legislation related to mergers and acquisitions.

• The issue:  Earlier this month, the Senate Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 2344, which would broaden state oversight of hospital mergers and acquisitions, moves to the full Senate for consideration.
• What it means for hospitals:  The bill would create another layer of regulatory burden for hospitals—and duplicate some existing requirements—while failing to address underlying causes of financial instability that have put some hospitals on the brink of closure.
• Quotable:  “Hospitals, big and small, rural and urban, simply cannot keep service lines open and, in the worst cases, are being forced to close their doors. In this environment, mergers and acquisitions are necessary tools to invest in struggling hospitals and preserve access to care in every Pennsylvania community,” the letter noted.

HAP’s letter to the Health and Human Services Committee is available online. For additional information, contact Stephanie Watkins, HAP’s senior vice president, advocacy and policy.