The Federal Trade Commission is backing a North Carolina-based bill that would exempt diagnostic centers, ASCs and psychiatric hospitals from the state's certificate-of-need law, according to a Healthcare Dive report.
Here are five quick points:
1. North Carolina's current CON law is quite "stringent" and necessitates a rigorous application and approval process.
2. The North Carolina Hospital Association is opposing the changes, according to the report.
3. Supporters of the bill advocate that it will allow healthcare organizations to more easily improve access to care.
4. Opponents of the bill believe ASCs will take away patients with private-insurance away from hospitals.
5. The FTC sees reform of CON laws as a necessary modernization in the healthcare business.
More on surgery centers:
12 questions to ask potential “strategic” ASC corporate partners
Oppenheimer gives HCA stock 'outperform' rating — 8 things to know
Physicians file CON for new surgery center in Vermont: 4 things to know