The Georgia Certificate of Need program became effective on July 1, 1979. The statutory charge of the program is to ensure that adequate health care services and facilities are developed in an orderly and economical manner, and that these facilities and services should be provided in a manner that avoids unnecessary duplication of services. The program continues despite numerous attempts over the years to repeal, sunset or modify Certificate of Need.
There has certainly been no lack of the free market competition vs. regulation debate in Georgia over the years. In fact, there have been major debates at various times over CON’s continued. The program came under serious attack in the Georgia General Assembly in 1997 by a coalition led by Columbia HCA. The attempt to sunset the program failed at that time largely due to a continued issue of who will pay for and provide health care to those unable to pay in a deregulated environment.
The Certificate of Need program has many advocates in Georgia, particularly many community hospitals who feel complete deregulation would lead to certain profitable services being offered by facilities to paying patients, with the indigent care load left to a few struggling community facilities. The program has continually updated and streamlined the administrative rules governing the program. It is certain that, as the health care landscape continues to change, the debate over the efficacy of the Certificate of Need program will continue.
See www.ahpanet.orgLearning Objectives: After attending this session, the participants would be able to: 1.List numerous planning methods to assure a healthy community; 2.Assess the value of cooperative planning and regulation to the community; and 3.Take a defensible position in the debate of managed care vs. planned regulation.
Keywords: Certificate of Need, Community Health Planning
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: American Health Planning Association
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.