A Georgia Senate study committee is drafting legislation that would significantly weaken the state's certificate of need laws, the Gwinnett Daily Post reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. The Senate is basing its recommendations on those made by the House committee.
2. Although the Senate's recommendations weaken the state's CON laws, they're more conservative than those proposed by the House committee.
3. The House wanted to eliminate CONs completely and implement an accreditation and licensing-based system.
4. The Senate's proposal would make certain types of facilities exempt from the CON process.
5. Hospital-focused lobbying groups in the state oppose any modification to the CON system.
6. Georgia's CON system is among the most restrictive in the nation.