Georgia Certificate of Need Anaylsis

Georgia Certificate of Need Analysis

The Certificate of Need process is determined at the State level. In most states, hospitals may not add additional services or spend more money (amount determined by the state), without submitting an application for the specific need. In 1974, a law (Public Law No. 93-641) was passed to encourage all states to review all plans asking for additional health services, facility construction, renovation, or expansion. Historically, the law was designed to review the federal funds prior to being granted to the requestor (Pozgar, 2009). The law is in the past, but many states have adopted the Certificate of Need (CON) program. Georgia legislature enacted Health Planning Statute, Title 31, Chapter 6, in 1979. The CON program was designed to ensure that all healthcare services adequately served the Georgia population. In addition, the program will oversee all requests to prevent duplication of healthcare services that ultimately increases the cost of healthcare. In 1999, the CON oversight was placed under the newly created Department of Community Health (DCH, n.d.).

Georgia Facilities that Require a Certificate of Need

In Georgia, almost all health care facilities and services must have a CON before any work or changes are done. Georgia’s Health Planning Statute states that the following must submit a CON:

a. All public and private hospitals, including general, acute-care, and specialized hospitals

b. Nursing homes

c. Ambulatory surgical services or obstetrical facilities

d. Home health agencies

e. Personal care homes (with 25 or more beds)

f. Inpatient rehabilitation facilities treating traumatic brain injury;

g. Diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation centers (whether for-profit or not-for-profit)

h. Major medical equipment purchases or leases (e.g. MRI, CT Scanners) that exceed the equipment threshold of $734,695

i. Major hospital renovations or other capital activities by any health care facility that...