Stay ahead of the curve as a political insider with deep policy analysis, daily briefings and policy-shaping tools.
Request a DemoGeorgia lawmakers push for repeal of law determining where medical facilities are built
A study committee of Georgia senators took a decisive step Tuesday toward ending a longstanding and contentious law that regulates how and where new medical facilities are located in the state.
The committee’s decision centers on the 44-year-old Certificate of Need law. It was created to control health care costs and cut down on duplication of services and unnecessary expansions. It determines when, where and if hospitals need to be built. Opponents have said the law prevents competition and enables big hospitals to have a monopoly, often shutting out small and private medical outlets.
On Tuesday, the Senate Study Committee on Certificate of Need Reform effectively said the law needs to be repealed. The committee approved, in a 6-2 vote, nine recommendations.
“Based upon the testimony, research presented, and information received, the Study Committee on Certificate of Need Reform has found that the problem Georgia’s CON law was intended to combat no longer exists,” the report said.
However, the head of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals said Tuesday that repealing the law would be a bad idea.
“It would have a devastating financial impact on hospitals and the quality and access to health care,” Monty Veazey, the alliance’s chief executive, told State Affairs.
Veazey said he has not seen the recommendations yet but his organization has sent its own set of recommendations to the senate and house study committees.
“We believe that the certificate of need really does need some modernization and we look forward to working with the committee to work through those recommendations and see if we can reach a compromise position during the upcoming legislative session,” Veazey said. “We still want to see what the House committee recommends before moving forward.”
Here’s what the senate study committee recommends, according to a draft:
- Repeal CON requirements for obstetrics services, neonatal intensive care, birth centers and all services related to maternal and neonatal care across Georgia.
- End requirements for hospital-based CON on Jan. 1, 2025.
- Reform CON laws to eliminate CON review for new and expanded inpatient psychiatric services and beds that serve Medicaid patients and the uninsured.
- Repeal all cost expenditure triggers for CON.
- All medical and surgery specialties should be considered a single specialty, including cardiology and general surgery.
- Multi-specialty centers should be allowed, particularly in rural areas.
- Remove CON for hospital bed expansion.
- Revise freestanding emergency department requirements such that they must be within 35 miles of an affiliated hospital.
- Remove CON for research centers.
The committee will present its recommendations to the Georgia General Assembly when it reconvenes in January.
Have questions? Contact Tammy Joyner on X @lvjoyner or at [email protected].
And subscribe to State Affairs so you do not miss an update.
X @StateAffairsGA
Facebook @StateAffairsGA
Instagram @StateAffairsGA
LinkedIn @StateAffairs
A primer on the Nov. 5 ballot measures: What you need to know
In addition to voting for president and down-ballot candidates in the Nov. 5 election, Georgians will decide on a couple of tax measures and whether to create a statewide tax court. Three questions call for a statewide vote, all of which appear at the end of the ballot. The first time most voters see these …
Tuesday’s early voting turnout sets highest 1-day record in a presidential election year
More than 306,000 Georgians voted on the first day of early voting Tuesday, setting the highest one-day early voting turnout in a presidential election year. Tuesday’s statewide turnout of 306,118 voters more than doubled that of first-day early voting for the general election four years ago, state election officials reported just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. “It’s …
Georgia Supreme Court restores state’s 6-week abortion ban
The Georgia Supreme Court reinstated the state’s six-week abortion ban Monday, a week after a lower court judge overturned the controversial measure. The court ordered the stay while it considers the state’s appeal of the lower court ruling. The head of an anti-abortion organization praised the Supreme Court’s decision, which went into effect at 5 …
Weekend Read: Georgia abortion clinics see surge after 6-week abortion ban struck down
While Georgia lawmakers seek to restore the state’s six-week abortion ban struck down earlier this week, some abortion clinics are reporting increased activity as women seek help during what some view as a temporary reprieve in the state law. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney on Monday struck down Georgia’s abortion ban, ruling it …