Thirty-six states have certificate of need laws, but an array of states are considering repealing or scaling down the restrictions.
These four states considered or passed some form of CON repeal this year:
1. Florida
The Florida Senate is currently considering legislation to abolish the CON system. The Senate should vote on CON reform in late April or early May.
2. North Carolina
The North Carolina House of Representatives is attempting to push ASC-related CON legislation through the house. The North Carolina Senate is more open to CON repeal and is considering two bills: One would abolish CONs completely and the other would abolish CONs in relation to ASCs.
3. Georgia
After an effective lobbying campaign killed Georgia's outright repeal of its CON laws, the state legislature passed a stripped-down version specifically targeted at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Atlanta. In the bill, Cancer Treatment Centers of America received expanded admission privileges. However, the bill harmed outpatient surgery centers by granting hospitals increased veto powers.
4. Alaska
The Alaska legislature is trying for a third time to abolish CON laws in the state. Republican legislators introduced CON-abolishing legislation in both chambers. As of February, the bills were not yet scheduled for consideration, the Alaska Journal of Commerce reported.