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, cannot develop new health care projects without this certificate. The definition of a "new health care project" has been updated to include various activities such as construction, renovation, and significant capital expenditures, with the threshold for requiring a certificate raised from $1,500,000 to $10,000,000. Additionally, the cost threshold for purchasing diagnostic and therapeutic equipment has increased from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000, and the annual operating expense threshold for new health care services has been raised from $500,000 to $3,000,000. The bill also repeals certain provisions related to ambulatory surgical centers and hospitals.

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 existing applications will continue to follow the previous thresholds and exclusions until a final decision is made.

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