The Bullitt County democrat was pushing a bill to exempt Bullitt County from the State Health Plan regulations regarding hospital beds. Jewish Hospital wants to add 60 acute care beds at its medical center in northern Bullitt County, but can't because of restrictions in the State Health Plan that bar counties from getting new hospital beds unless more than 80% of the beds in an adjoining county are full. Less than 60% of the hospital beds are full in Jefferson County, which borders Bullitt County. That makes Bullitt County ineligible for beds. So Belcher's bill would allow Jewish to avoid the Certificate of Need process. The Kentucky Hospital Association, Beshear administration and other Louisville-based hospitals are opposing the bill, claiming an exemption for Jewish in Bullitt County would open the floodgates for unneeded acute care beds in other counties.

Belcher's bill unanimously passed the House Health and Welfare Committee with Belcher's House colleagues taking turns praising him in front of the audience, which included at least a dozen folks from Bullitt County. Rep. Mary Lou Marzian said the citizens of Bullitt County are lucky to have Larry Belcher while others talked of how hard Belcher has fought to get overnight hospital beds for Jewish. House Speaker Jody Richards sat next to Belcher during the entire meeting. Belcher is facing a tough reelection battle with Republican Trina Summers.