(a) The Health Systems Planning Unit shall conduct, on a biennial basis, a state-wide health care facility utilization study. Such study may include an assessment of: (1) Current availability and utilization of acute hospital care, hospital emergency care, specialty hospital care, outpatient surgical care, primary care and clinic care; (2) geographic areas and subpopulations that may be underserved or have reduced access to specific types of health care services; and (3) other factors that the unit deems pertinent to health care facility utilization. Not later than June thirtieth of the year in which the biennial study is conducted, the executive director of the Office of Health Strategy shall report, in accordance with § 11-4a, to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and human services on the findings of the study. Such report may also include the unit’s recommendations for addressing identified gaps in the provision of health care services and recommendations concerning a lack of access to health care services.

(b) The unit, in consultation with such other state agencies as the executive director deems appropriate, shall establish and maintain a state-wide health care facilities and services plan. Such plan may include, but not be limited to: (1) An assessment of the availability of acute hospital care, hospital emergency care, specialty hospital care, outpatient surgical care, primary care and clinic care; (2) an evaluation of the unmet needs of persons at risk and vulnerable populations as determined by the executive director; (3) a projection of future demand for health care services and the impact that technology may have on the demand, capacity or need for such services; and (4) recommendations for the expansion, reduction or modification of health care facilities or services. In the development of the plan, the unit shall consider the recommendations of any advisory bodies which may be established by the executive director. The executive director may also incorporate the recommendations of authoritative organizations whose mission is to promote policies based on best practices or evidence-based research. The executive director, in consultation with hospital representatives, shall develop a process that encourages hospitals to incorporate the state-wide health care facilities and services plan into hospital long-range planning and shall facilitate communication between appropriate state agencies concerning innovations or changes that may affect future health planning. The unit shall update the state-wide health care facilities and services plan not less than once every two years.

(c) For purposes of conducting the state-wide health care facility utilization study and preparing the state-wide health care facilities and services plan, the unit shall establish and maintain an inventory of all health care facilities, the equipment identified in subdivisions (9) and (10) of subsection (a) of § 19a-638, and services in the state, including health care facilities that are exempt from certificate of need requirements under subsection (b) of § 19a-638. The unit shall develop an inventory questionnaire to obtain the following information: (1) The name and location of the facility; (2) the type of facility; (3) the hours of operation; (4) the type of services provided at that location; and (5) the total number of clients, treatments, patient visits, procedures performed or scans performed in a calendar year. The inventory shall be completed biennially by health care facilities and providers and such health care facilities and providers shall not be required to provide patient specific or financial data.