Senate Proposal Would Require Hospital ‘Needs Assessment’

Nonprofit hospitals would have to periodically conduct a “community needs assessment” and follow other new, unspecified requirements under a proposal announced by Sen. Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

The proposal was included in a “framework of a plan” for health-care changes that Mr. Baucus drew up for consideration by a group of Democrats and Republicans on the finance committee. “This is not a final product,” the document cautioned.

No other details about requirements for hospitals were described in the document.

Mr. Baucus said he plans to release a draft of a health-care bill next week and that the finance committee is expected to begin work on the legislation the week of September 21.

The Internal Revenue Service currently uses a “community benefit” standard to determine a hospital’s nonprofit eligibility.