Chester County lawmakers to introduce bill that would require approval from the Department of Health before hospitals can be purchased
Rep. Kristine C. Howard April 9, 2025 | 9:45 AM
HARRISBURG, April 9 – State Rep. Dan Williams is introducing legislation alongside Reps. Kristine Howard and Melissa Shusterman, all D-Chester, that would require approval from the Department of Health before a hospital or hospital system can be purchased.
One in three hospital mergers and acquisitions lead to a full or partial hospital closure. In Chester County, Tower Health purchased Jennersville and Brandywine Hospitals, which both closed less than 5 years after the acquisition. These sales often lead to broken promises, unexpected closures and reduced services to customers, Williams said.
“When hospitals close, jobs disappear and patients are forced to travel further distances for potentially lifesaving care. These closures create major challenges for our communities,” Williams said. “When a life is on the line, the miles and minutes matter, which is why we are introducing this bill to protect residents and frontline workers from such abrupt closures.”
The bill would require the Department of Health to review applications, hold public hearings and prepare impact statements on the effect of the buying and selling of the healthcare services that the hospital or hospital system provides.
We cannot allow our health to be dictated by business interests,” said Howard. “Department of Health approval will ensure continued access to quality care and keep the focus on patients, not profits.”
“Losing medical resources in one community forces other nearby medical facilities to close the service gap. Our healthcare system was already deeply strained by the pandemic, and these closures continue to force overworked staff to sacrifice their safety and mental health to care for our loved ones,” said Shusterman. “The quality of care also suffers because patients now must drive long distances for care. We need better oversight, community involvement, and a holistic approach that accounts for the well-being of our entire region.”
The bill also would require price transparency from hospitals or hospital systems so that patients have full access to the costs of items and services provided to them.
The lawmakers are currently seeking cosponsors for this legislation.