Two identical bills in the Georgia legislature — HB 198 and SB 74 — would repeal the state's certificate of need program and replace it with a special healthcare services license for most medical facilities, including ASCs, JDSupra reports.
What you should know:
1. The CON program would still apply to skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, personal care homes, intermediate care facilities and continuing care requirement communities.
2. The special healthcare services license for all other health services would uphold the current exemptions under CON laws, but it would also create exemptions for cardiology procedures in ASCs, multispecialty ASCs with separate single-specialty ASCs and centers such as Alpharetta, Ga.-based Legacy Sports. Legacy Sports is a practice run by James Andrews, MD.
3. The expanded law would prohibit objections to licensure applications unless the proposed service is outside the Metro Atlanta area and within 10 miles of a facility providing the same services.
4. HB 198 was introduced by Rep. Matt Hatchett, R-Dublin, and referred to the Georgia House Special Committee on Access to Quality Healthcare.
5. SB 74 was introduced by Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, and referred to the Georgia Senate Regulated Industries Committee.