Certificate of Need News
Opponents of repeal say state needs certificate of need
2/27/2009
JACKSONVILLE -- States that most recently decided to repeal their certificate of need laws had an immediate increase in hospital expansion and construction, but officials in those states later questioned whether the move was beneficial to health care overall.
Indiana and Pennsylvania were the most recent states to repeal CON laws that regulate new construction projects or additions, in 1999 and 1996, respectively. Since the repeal, both states have had increases in specialty hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, while also seeing older community hospitals struggle to compete with those specialty hospitals for paying patients, according to information gathered on both states.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist proposed a repeal of the CON process earlier this month, saying a freer market would increase efficiency of the industry and make Florida's economy more vibrant. Groups, such as the Florida Hospital Association and the Florida Hospital Council of the business trade group Associated Industries of Florida, have railed against the proposal.
Read this article by Dave Strupp from the February 18, 2008 issue of the Jacksonville Business Journal.
