Baldwin calls for protections against hospital closures after sudden Wisconsin shutdowns

The sudden closure of two hospitals and a network of clinics in western Wisconsin left many residents struggling to find health care providers earlier this year.

A new bill by Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin would require hospital systems to notify federal health officials well before closing and could force hospitals to make sure patients don’t lose access to essential care.

Baldwin announced the Hospital Stability and Health Services Act, or HSHS Act, on Thursday. The acronym is the same as Hospital Sisters Health System, the Illinois-based provider that shut down its operations in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley region between January and April.

“For too many Wisconsin families, especially in our rural communities, health care is already a struggle to get,” Baldwin said in a statement. “That’s why when hospitals like HSHS close with little to no notice for their patients, Wisconsinites are left out to dry and with no options to find the sometimes lifesaving care they need.”

Under the bill, hospitals that are closing or eliminating services would have to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at least 90 days beforehand. The notification period is longer than the 60 day notice required by federal law around mass layoffs.

Health care systems would not be allowed to discontinue essential services during three month period unless continuing to provide care would put patients or staff at risk, for example if a lack of staff or resources compromised care.

The proposal comes after community leaders in western Wisconsin voiced frustration about HSHS’ rapid shutdown of services like surgery and reports of the health system removed critical medical equipment from the area ahead of the shut downs.

The legislation would allow federal health officials to request a mitigation plan from a health system that outlines how the affected community will maintain access to essential medical services, including identifying patient transportation plans. The mitigation plan would also outline support offered to affected employees.

“Simply put, my bill would have given the folks in western Wisconsin a plan, helping them get connected with new health care providers,” Baldwin said in a statement. “Instead of HSHS abruptly shuttering its doors and leaving patients and staff high and dry, my bill would require that hospitals like HSHS help smooth the transition for their patients and staff.”

Ahead of the hospital closures in March, leaders at HSHS said they worked with the state Department of Health Services to plan patient care transitions. The health system said during it’s first announcement about the shutdowns that physicians and other employees would receive career transition assistance.

The bill would also require federal health officials to report to Congress every two years on trends in hospital closures and the ability of the U.S. health care system to meet demands.

Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman said he appreciates Baldwin’s efforts to protect communities from future hospital closures.

“It would have been nice (to have more notice),” Hoffman said. “But would it have changed things? Absolutely not. We would still be sitting here 90 days later with the same situation.”

In the four months since St. Joseph’s hospital shut down, Hoffman said residents have mostly adjusted and found new providers. The city is still working to attract a new hospital system to the area. But he said the demand for care has been met by regional health systems in cities like Eau Claire and Bloomer.

Gov. Tony Evers voiced his support for the legislation in a press release on Thursday, saying the bill would ensure patients aren’t “left in the lurch” by any future closures.

“The ‘HSHS Act’ will go a long way in making sure there is transparency and that folks can find and have access to the care they need if and when a hospital announces a closure,” Evers said in a statement.