Hospital regulation bill passes Senate

House Bill 350 was passed by the state Senate on a 14-7 party-line vote.

The hospital regulation bill was heavily amended to remove many of the objections from the state’s nonprofit hospital industry, including the threat of a $360 million revenue loss and the state taking over hospitals that did not meet budget benchmarks.

After the compromises were reached, the Delaware Healthcare Association, the organization representing the state’s hospitals, took a neutral position on the bill after earlier mobilizing opposition, including a social media campaign and hospital staff gathering outside Legislative Hall.

The bill would create a commission that would review and approve hospital budgets.

Opponents also included a segment of the business community. Hospitals are a key economic driver in Delaware and are the largest private employers in New Castle and Sussex counties.

Senate Republicans still voted against the bill, calling it a bad piece of legislation that would put politicians in charge of a hospital budget. The bill would create a panel made of individuals with healthcare expertise.

The bill passed the House, after a lengthy and sometimes contentious debate.

Foes of the bill faced a State Senate where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a two-to-one margin.