House Bill No. 7050 seeks to amend the Certificate of Need (CON) program by updating regulations and definitions related to health care facilities. The bill allows the Commissioner of Health Strategy to adopt necessary regulations and implement policies for the CON program, provided that a public hearing is held at least thirty days prior to any new policy implementation. It modifies the definition of "termination of services" to indicate that it refers to a cessation of services for more than 180 days within a two-year period or for thirty consecutive days. Additionally, the bill removes certain requirements for acquiring proton radiotherapy machines and non-hospital based linear accelerators, allowing replacements without needing a new CON.

The bill also introduces an expedited review process for specific CON applications that address significant unmet needs in geographic areas, allowing for quicker decisions without a public hearing. It mandates that the Health Systems Planning Unit consider preliminary and final reports during the review of hospital ownership transfers and updates the financial cap for independent consultants conducting Comprehensive Market Impact Reviews from $200,000 to $300,000 per application. These changes aim to enhance transparency, streamline the approval process, and ensure continued access to high-quality health care, with certain provisions taking effect as early as July 1, 2025, and others on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable:
File No. 683: