The bill S.10, introduced by Senators Hardy and Lyons, aims to modify the requirements for obtaining a certificate of need (CON) for new health care projects in Vermont. Key changes include increasing the monetary thresholds for various health care projects, such as raising the capital cost limit for non-hospitals from $1.5 million to $5 million and for hospitals from $3 million to $10 million. Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirement for certain projects to obtain a CON, specifically for expenditures anticipated to exceed $30 million, which will now require a conceptual development phase certificate of need only if costs exceed $100 million. The bill also mandates that the Green Mountain Care Board shall adjust the monetary jurisdictional thresholds annually based on the cumulative Consumer Price Index rate of inflation.

Furthermore, the bill introduces exclusions from the CON requirements, including routine replacements of fully depreciated medical equipment and nonmedical equipment regardless of their remaining useful life. It also specifies that emergency and nonemergency ground ambulance services and related equipment used by emergency medical personnel are excluded from the CON process. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-9434, 18-9435