This bill amends Iowa's Certificate of Need (CON) process by streamlining definitions and requirements for institutional health services. It removes specific paragraphs from existing law that defined certain health services and expenditures, thereby simplifying the criteria for what constitutes a new or changed institutional health service. The bill introduces new monetary thresholds for capital expenditures and construction projects, which will increase over time, and specifies that certain health facilities will not be required to pay application fees for CONs. Additionally, it narrows the circumstances under which a CON application is required, focusing on construction or establishment of new facilities, relocations, capital expenditures, permanent changes in bed capacity, and mobile health services valued over $4 million.

The application process is further modified by allowing applicants whose CON applications are rejected to resubmit revised applications without incurring additional fees. The notification process for affected persons regarding CON applications will shift from traditional media to electronic distribution, and the timeline for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue decisions on CON applications is adjusted, eliminating automatic denial after 90 days and reducing the maximum deferment period from 60 to 30 days unless otherwise agreed upon. The bill also repeals the requirement for a letter of intent prior to application review, aiming to enhance the efficiency of the CON process while ensuring necessary health services can be developed and maintained in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 135.61, 135.62, 135C.1, 135.65, 135.64, 135.71, 135.68, 135.131