Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has expressed his desire to disband the council which oversees the state's certificate of need process, according to a report from The Providence Journal.
Gov. Chafee said he wants to disband the Health Services Council because his administration believes the council, which has operated for four decades, does not have a strategic plan guiding decisions and infrequently recommends against CON applications.
Supporters say the council and CON process are critical to ensuring unnecessary duplication of health services and facilities.
If the council is disbanded, it would save little money as its members are volunteers. Rather, the CON process has brought in $3.4 million in application fees over the last decade, according to the report.
Read The Providence Journal report about the Rhode Island certificate of need.
Read more about certificate of need:
- New York Surgeons to Request CON for Lockport Surgery Center Despite Hospital Protest
- Iowa Hospital Officials Express Concern Over CON Bill Which Could Help Surgery Centers
- Competing Alabama Hospitals Ask State to Require Surgery Center CON for Helen Keller Hospital