The bill amends 18 V.S.A. § 9434 regarding the requirements for obtaining a certificate of need for health care projects in Vermont. It specifies that health care facilities, excluding hospitals, must secure a certificate of need for new projects with capital costs exceeding $10,000,000, a significant increase from the previous threshold of $1,500,000. Additionally, the bill raises the thresholds for the purchase of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 and for annual operating expenses of health care services from $500,000 to $3,000,000. The bill also repeals certain provisions related to ambulatory surgical centers and hospitals, streamlining the requirements for these entities.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new exclusions from the certificate of need requirements, including routine replacements of fully depreciated medical equipment and nonmedical equipment, as well as emergency ground ambulance services. It also clarifies that projects owned or operated by the State of Vermont or funded by state contracts or grants are excluded, provided that the relevant state agency informs the Green Mountain Care Board. The act will take effect upon passage and will apply to all new health care projects initiated thereafter, while allowing certain existing applications to continue under previous thresholds.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-9434, 18-9435
As Passed By the House -- Official: 18-9434, 18-9435
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 18-9434, 18-9435
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 18-9434, 18-9435
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 18-9434, 18-9435
As Enacted: 18-9434, 18-9435