The bill amends Section 23-15-10 of the General Laws concerning the application fees for the certificate of need program related to healthcare equipment and services. It introduces a new requirement for applicants to submit an application fee prior to any review, with state-owned healthcare facilities exempt from this fee. The application fees are structured based on the type of services proposed, with standard applications requiring a fee of $500 plus 0.25% of total capital expenditures, while expedited reviews require a fee of $750 plus the same percentage. Notably, applications for new or expanded tertiary or specialty care services will incur a fee of $10,000 plus 0.25% of total capital expenditures, but this fee is now capped at a total of $25,000.

Additionally, the bill specifies that all application fees are non-refundable and mandates that all fees collected be deposited into the general fund. The act is set to take effect upon passage, aiming to streamline the fee structure and provide clarity on the maximum fees applicable under the certificate of need program.

Statutes affected:
5356: 23-15-10