Bill Text - SB502 (2018)

Relative to transparency and standards for acquisition transactions in health care.


Revision: Dec. 20, 2017, 12:54 p.m.

SB 502-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2018 SESSION

18-2978

01/10

 

SENATE BILL 502-FN

 

AN ACT relative to transparency and standards for acquisition transactions in health care.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill clarifies the standards for acquisition transactions involving health care charitable trusts and the review required by the director of charitable trusts.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2978

01/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to transparency and standards for acquisition transactions in health care.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Director of Charitable Trusts; Standards for Acquisition Transactions Involving Health Care Charitable Trusts and Review by Director of Charitable Trusts.  Amend RSA 7:19-b, II(b) to read as follows:

(b)  Due diligence has been exercised in selecting the acquirer, in engaging and considering the advice of expert assistance, in negotiating the terms and conditions of the proposed transaction, and in determining that the transaction is in the best interest of the health care charitable trust and the community which it serves, including the community's access to quality and affordable physical and mental health care services;

2  Director of Charitable Trusts; Standards for Acquisition Transactions Involving Health Care Charitable Trusts and Review by Director of Charitable Trusts.  Amend RSA 7:19-b, II(e)-(g) to read as follows:

(e)  The assets of the health care charitable trust and any proceeds to be received on account of the transaction shall continue to be devoted to charitable purposes consistent with the charitable objects of the health care charitable trust and the needs of the community which it serves, including the community's need to access quality and affordable physical and mental health care services;

(f)  f the acquirer is other than another New Hampshire health care charitable trust, control of the proceeds shall be independent of the acquirer; and

(g)  Reasonable public notice of the proposed transaction and its terms has been provided to the community served by the health care charitable trust, including, but not limited to, transaction documents and an analysis of how the transaction will meet the community's need for access to quality and affordable physical and mental health care services, along with reasonable and timely opportunity for such community, through well-noticed public [hearing or] hearings and other similar methods, to inform the deliberations of the governing body of the health care charitable trust regarding the proposed transaction.

3  Director of Charitable Trusts; Standards for Acquisition Transactions Involving Health Care Charitable Trusts and Review by the Director of Charitable Trusts.  Amend RSA 7:19-b, III and IV to read as follows:

III.  Notice of a proposed acquisition transaction shall be given to the director of charitable trusts in writing to be received by the director no less than [120] 180 days before consummation of the transaction.  Such notice shall identify all parties to the transaction; shall set forth all material terms thereof, including, without limitation, any changes in control or ownership of assets, any acquisition price, any change in the capital structure and management, and any and all compensation paid or to be paid in connection therewith; shall include a copy of the minutes and other documents evidencing the decision of the governing body of the health care charitable trust, including documentation of steps taken to comply with paragraph II(g) of this section and any changes in the proposed transaction resulting therefrom, any relevant community needs assessment developed by the health care charitable trust, data and analysis demonstrating how the transaction will meet the community's need for access to quality and affordable physical and mental health care services, and a copy of the acquisition agreement and financial statements of all parties; and shall include a certification signed by those members of the governing body or other person approving the acquisition on behalf of the health care charitable trust that the standards set forth in paragraph II of this section have been considered in good faith and complied with, together with such explanations and other documentation as may be necessary to demonstrate such compliance.  The notice shall also include a statement from the acquirer specifying the manner in which it proposes to continue to fulfill the charitable objects of the health care charitable trust.  Any information submitted pursuant to this section shall be subject to RSA 91-A.

IV.(a)  Within a reasonable time, not to exceed [120] 180 days after receipt of the notice specified in the preceding paragraph, the director shall determine compliance with the standards set forth in paragraph II of this section and shall notify the parties either that the director will take no further action with respect thereto, or that the director objects to the transaction on specified grounds.  Within [60] 90 days following receipt of the notice specified in the preceding paragraph, the director may require submittal of such additional information as may be reasonably necessary to make such a determination.  In making such a determination, the director shall accept public comment and may conduct public hearings relating thereto within the time specified in this paragraph and may direct the health care charitable trust to publish notice thereof in a manner reasonably specified by the director.  Such hearing may be conducted informally or in conformity with RSA 541-A, at the discretion of the director.  The expenses of such public hearing shall be paid for by the parties to the proposed transaction, after consultation with the parties.  Where the acquisition transaction involves assets, the fair value of which are in excess of $5,000,000, after consultation with the parties, the director may employ, at the parties' expense, expert assistance, including independent counsel and independent financial advisors that are reasonably necessary to make the determination specified in this paragraph.

(b)  The director may seek input and advice from the commissioner of the department of health and human services and the insurance commissioner and may share and seek confidential health care data and information with executive branch agencies in performing his or her functions under this section.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

 

LBAO

18-2978

11/28/17

 

SB 502-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to transparency and standards for acquisition transactions in health care.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

  [    ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Restricted revenue

 

 

 

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Director of Charitable Trusts to modify the standard of review for proposed transactions involving health care charitable trusts to include an analysis of the community’s access to quality and affordable physical and mental health care services.  

 

The Department of Justice indicates it does not currently have access to the data and information or the staff with the expertise necessary to implement the requirements of this bill.  The Department states the Departments of Health and Human Services and Insurance do have staff with such expertise but it is uncertain whether the Department could use those resources.  A health care charitable trust may be required to pay the Department of Justice to hire expert assistance pursuant to RSA 7:19-b.  Therefore, the fiscal impact would likely be on the charitable trust.  The Department indicates the impact on state revenue and expenditures is indeterminable because the cost to hire an expert to assist with the required analysis is not known.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Justice