The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services announced plans to overhaul the state's certificate of need process, according to a Louisville Business First report. Here are three things to know about the CON process and the planned revisions.
1. A certificate of need is required to build or expand a healthcare facility or launch a new service in Kentucky. Ambulatory surgery centers fall under the scope of the CON program in the state, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
2. Though the state's CON program has undergone a number of small changes in recent years, it has been more than a decade since a major overhaul. In the upcoming program revision Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services plans to incentivize providers to develop a continuum of care, according to the Louisville Business First report. The program overhaul will also aim to improve patient access and quality of care.
3. The state is eliciting feedback on the program from providers. Two sessions will be held, March 16 and March 17, at the Department of Public Health office to hear input, according to the report.