Is your state a CON state?

[KC]

I found this little map that can help you identify whether your state requires hospitals and health care providers to first seek a Certificate of Need from a state board, which can decide whether or not to approve new facilities. I found this information useful, so I thought I would share it with others here. http://www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/ImageLibrary/WebImages/Health/CON-map11.gif


(http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/con-certificate-of-need-state-laws.aspx)A more detailed explanation of CON as well as the arguments from both supporters and opponents of CON can be found here:

http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/con-certificate-of-need-state-laws.aspx

[Captain Obvious]

I live in PA but work in WV and recently NH - the latter two being CON states.

Further, WV has a regulatory bureau that regulates what hospitals can charge. First state I've ever worked in that has one of these.

I understand the intent with both, but I question the effectiveness although WV's CON process is fairly effective to the extent that the healthcare environment isn't overly competitive.

In highly competitive areas like NE, it's more political than procedural.

[KC]

I live in PA but work in WV and recently NH - the latter two being CON states.

Further, WV has a regulatory bureau that regulates what hospitals can charge. First state I've ever worked in that has one of these.

I understand the intent with both, but I question the effectiveness although WV's CON process is fairly effective to the extent that the healthcare environment isn't overly competitive.

In highly competitive areas like NE, it's more political than procedural.

My first thought when I started looking into this is that a state board being able to determine whether a hospital expands or adds new facilities is that that could be abused to protect certain political interests. That doesn't necessarily mean that CON laws are always abused, but what's your experience? Do the CON laws ever make it hard for the hospitals where you work to add new facilities or make changes that you think would make the hospital better off in the long run?