An Act to ensure timely health care cost reporting and protecting not-for-profit patient care

This bill (SD 993) requires health care providers to submit cost reports on time and blocks for-profit companies from taking over non-profit hospitals. It amends reporting rules to make submission mandatory ("shall" instead of "may") and adds a requirement for the state center to define "just cause" for reporting exemptions. Crucially, it prohibits for-profit entities from obtaining licenses to operate acute-care hospitals if they acquire a non-profit hospital after April 1, 2024, through sales, mergers, or similar transactions. The bill directly affects hospitals seeking new licenses or renewals and health care providers responsible for cost reporting.