UMass Memorial Medical Center (UMMMC) works with and reports to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). The Determination of Need (DoN) law and regulation governs Health Care Facilities as that term is defined in M.G.L. c 111, § 25B. Under Massachusetts law M.G.L. c. 111, §§ 25C and 51, proposals for a Substantial Capital Expenditure, Substantial Change in Services and Original Licensure as well as many Transfers of Ownership and Changes in Site for Health Care Facilities must be reviewed and approved under the DoN Regulatory scheme.

The purpose and objective of the DoN program is to encourage competition with a public health focus; to promote population health; to support the development of innovative health delivery methods and population health strategies within the health care delivery system; and, to ensure that resources will be made reasonably and equitably available to every person within the Commonwealth at the lowest reasonable aggregate cost. To that end, health care organizations must file a DoN application with DPH when capital improvement projects are planned for its facilities. New capital improvement projects (new construction and purchases) must be approved by the state’s Public Health Council, and five percent of expenses must go to community health. MDPH has developed requirements and has issued guidelines on how these funds are distributed and monitored.

Since 2018, UMass Memorial Medical Center has been distributing community benefits through the Determination of Needs (DoN) funding from the following projects:

• Healthcare Enterprises (Shields): The establishment of the Ambulatory Surgery Center in Shrewsbury.
  • Total DoN funding: $1,561,340
  • Total distribution remaining: $1,387,358
• UMass Memorial Medical Center Renovations: There was a substantial capital expenditure for renovations affecting four floors at the UMMMC University Campus to address medical/surgical (M/S) capacity, and emergency department (ED) wait time.
  • Total DoN funding: $1,520,012
  • Total distribution remaining: $1,201,070

In April 2023, the DoN Advisory and Allocation Committee approved Request for Proposals applications for the Healthcare Enterprises and UMMMC Renovations DoN Projects. Each grant recipient was selected for its work in alignment with the priority areas of the DoN funding, which included Mental Health, Food Insecurity, and Access to Housing/Housing security, as identified in the 2021 Greater Worcester Community Health Needs Assessment.