In December 1996, while debating possible exceptions to Certificate of Need, this regulatory program was allowed to sunset by the Senate, even though the House had extended it. CON had previously been strongly supported by government, hospitals and others since its inception in 1979. This deregulation came as a surprise to many of the interested parties. Pennsylvania had been considered one of the strongest of the eastern states who promoted this planning model, in much the same manner that it had been pioneered by its northern neighbor, New York. The immediate response to deregulation had been a cooperative effort between the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and the Department of Health, shifting many of the planning and regulatory functions to licensing. During the five years since the CON sunset, the Pennsylvania attitude toward deregulation and the public/private cooperation efforts have evolved considerably. Much emphasis and attention is now being placed on the concept of "value purchasing" which will be extensively explained and promoted in this session. It is believed that deregulation has been appropriate and beneficial in Pennsylvania, and that the experiences here can have a positive influence on other states that wish to sunset CON. A number of examples and experiences will be shared to support this belief.
Learning 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,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.