State legislators are considering an array of laws that could affect ASCs.
For example, 36 states have certificate of need laws, and several of those states are considering repealing or scaling down the restrictions. So far in 2019, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Alaska considered some form of CON repeal.
Here are three states considering either CON or ASC-related legislation:
North Carolina: The North Carolina Senate included several CON-related measures in its proposed 2020 fiscal budget. The Senate adopted its budget May 31, including several measures that would repeal CON laws. The North Carolina House has not included any language related to CONs, but state legislators said they were confident CON repeal is on its way. Read more here and here.
Vermont: The Vermont House Health Care Committee advanced a bill that would establish a state licensing structure for ASCs. The bill would require the committee to collect and review ASC-related information before granting a license. Read more.
Florida: A Florida bill to partially repeal CON laws is on its way to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis after both legislative bodies passed it April 29. The bill would allow new hospitals to open in Florida without CON approval by 2021. The governor has not yet signed the bill, Lexology reports. Read more.