Section 123 Pappas Pediatric Rehabilitation Consolidation 5

(a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

          "Commissioner", the commissioner of public health.

          "Department", the department of public health.

          "Health care provider", any doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or dental science, or a registered nurse, registered pharmacist, social worker, doctor of chiropractic or psychologist licensed under the provisions of chapter 112, or an intern, or a resident, fellow or medical officer licensed under section 9 of said chapter 112, or a hospital, clinic or nursing home licensed under the provisions of chapter 111 and its agents and employees or a public hospital and its agents and employees.

          "Pappas", the Pappas rehabilitation hospital for children, as designated in chapter 87 of the acts of 2016, formerly known as the Massachusetts hospital school.

          "Public health hospital", a hospital or health care facility operated by the department pursuant to chapter 111.

          (b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner or designee shall develop and implement a consolidation plan providing for the necessary orderly transfer of pediatric patients, personnel, proceeds, rules and regulations, by-laws, equipment, property and legal obligations and functions of Pappas and Western Massachusetts hospital.

          (c) All books, papers, records, documents, equipment, cash and other property, both personal and real, including all such property held in trust, which immediately before the transfer are in the custody of Pappas, shall be transferred to Western Massachusetts hospital or other public health hospital facilities, or a combination thereof and maintained in the usual course.

          (d) All duly existing contracts, leases and obligations of Pappas, shall be managed by the department and the executive office for administration and finance in accordance with all applicable regulations and policies.

          (e) The operation and provision of pediatric services through the public health hospitals shall continue through current funding or appropriations to the public health hospitals within the Hospital Operations Consolidated Account.

          (f) Upon certification by the commissioner that the patient census at the Pappas is at 0, the physical campus of the hospital and school shall be closed to students and patients. The ongoing provision of pediatric services shall continue through public health hospitals, including, but not limited to, the Western Massachusetts hospital.

          (g) If required, the commissioner shall be authorized to represent Pappas and the associated pediatric program beyond the closure date referenced in subsection (f).

          (h) The commissioner of public health may seek input from the Public Health Hospital System Board of Governors or members of the community to provide input on the consolidation of Pappas and Western Massachusetts hospital and the continued provision of pediatric services at the public health hospitals. Such input will ensure the ongoing provision of clinically appropriate, community based, inclusive and effective care to those patients transferred from the Pappas campus or requiring ongoing pediatric care.

This section, together with related sections, facilitates the consolidation of the Pappas Pediatric Rehabilitation Program.