1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; requiring a study of the need for 
  1.3             an additional hospital in central Minnesota. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [HOSPITAL NEED STUDY.] 
  1.6      (a) The commissioner of health shall study and report to 
  1.7   the legislature by January 15, 2004, on the need for 
  1.8   construction of an additional hospital in central Minnesota and 
  1.9   on the impact the additional hospital would likely have on 
  1.10  health care services in the area. 
  1.11     (b) The study shall consider, but not be limited to, the 
  1.12  following issues: 
  1.13     (1) the need for additional acute care hospital beds, given 
  1.14  current capacity and future population projections; 
  1.15     (2) the likely impact of an additional hospital on the 
  1.16  financial viability of existing health care services, including 
  1.17  specialty care, on health care costs in the area, and on 
  1.18  consumer choice for area residents; 
  1.19     (3) the optimum size of an additional facility, if one is 
  1.20  needed, and what types of specialty services should be offered 
  1.21  in addition to general acute care hospital services; and 
  1.22     (4) the impact of the new facility on the health care 
  1.23  worker shortage and worker training.