Three Republican lawmakers from Virginia's House of Delegates have called for a removal of pre-approval regulations by the state for hospital expansions, surgery centers and certain medical services, according to The Washington Post.
Here are seven things to know:
1. The three members of the state's House of Delegates said they plan to file eight bills related to the healthcare regulations, known as "certificate of public need" laws.
2. The bills would release imaging, ambulatory and surgery centers and hospitals from the laws over three years.
3. A work group appointed by the state, which includes hospital executives and industry experts, decided to keep the laws more or less intact. However, the lawmakers say that this isn't enough.
4. The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association opposes efforts to repeal the regulations as it may further the challenges facing healthcare facilities that are trying to increase access to care.
5. Some hospitals say the COPN laws help prevent providers from artificially increasing prices and protect facilities caring for underserved populations.
6. However, one of the three lawmakers, Del. John M. O’Bannon III, MD (R-Henrico), says that the COPN laws are used by "by respective systems to try to build monopolies."
7. The governor will review the bills and make his own legislative proposals, according to the governor's spokesman.