Here are five things to know about House Bill 200, which aims to reform the certificate of need program in North Carolina, according to a Triangle Business Journal report.
1. The legislation would allow the establishment of ambulatory surgery centers in the state without the approval of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Resources.
2. House Bill 200 was introduced by Representative Marilyn Avila (R-Wake).
3. The bill would require independent surgery centers to dedicate at least 7 percent of total revenue to charity care.
4. Any ASC planned for a county with a population lower than 100,000 would need a letter of support from every hospital in the county in order to open.
5. The legislation would also require any ASCs opened in rural counties to have a written transfer agreement with the nearest hospital.