What you should know:
1. The General Assembly is debating a bill that would replace the CON system with a less restrictive licensing process.
2. The bill is framed to improve rural health conditions, while allowing for an expedited, review process without comments. If passed, there would be limited requirements for healthcare facilities, except nursing homes and home healthcare.
3. In Atlanta, existing healthcare facilities would rarely be allowed to object to a new applicant, and in rural Georgia, existing facilities would only be able to object if a center is within 10 miles of an existing center.
4. Hospital industry lobbyists, CON proponents, believe the GA has changed its attitudes toward CONs. Lobbyists are attempting to negotiate certain aspects of the bill without losing surgery centers and imaging center restrictions.
5. Rep. Terry England, R-Auburn, said, “Our end game is to do what’s best for the patient. What’s best for the patient is access, affordability and quality.”
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