The current Certificate of Need Program has been operated in North Carolina since January 1, 1979, although it has been extensively modified over the years. Some changes resulted in a period of semi-deregulation during which there was an explosion of new equipment, followed by increased regulation to exercise more control over development of new services.
As in other States, not all providers, physicians in particular, agree with the need for CON regulation of health services they believe they have the right to provide without government interference. Consequently, in North Carolina, considerable effort is being expended by affected parties to build consensus among providers as to the services that should be regulated, the projection of the need for each regulated service and the criteria used to evaluate proposals for a certificate of need.
Some unique characteristics of the CON process in North Carolina are as follows.
(1) Adoption of an annual plan; (2) Decisions to approve or disapprove a certificate of need project are made by a project analyst and the Chief or Assistant Chief of the Certificate of Need Section; (3) No political interference in the decisions; and (4) Appeals of the decisions made by the CON Section are made directly to the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Presentation will review characteristics of CON program and experiences in regulating health care services in North Carolina.
See facility-services.state.nc.us/plan2000/discplan.htmLearning Objectives: 1.List numerous planning methods to assure a healthy community; 2.Assess the value of cooperative planning and regulation to the community; and 3.Take a defensible position in the debate of managed care vs. planned regulation.
Keywords: Certificate of Need, Community Health Planning
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.