Montana’s number of ASCs, home health agencies and inpatient addiction treatment centers have grown by 12.5% since its certificate-of-need law was repealed in 2021, according to an October report from the Frontier Institute.
Here are four more things to know from the report:
1. With the end of CON restrictions, new ASCs have been able to open without state permission or competitor challenges. This expansion has increased patient access to same-day surgical care, especially in rural areas that previously lacked these facilities.
2. The repeal also allowed home health agencies and inpatient rehab providers to expand geographically. For instance, two home health companies added service areas in at least 18 additional counties, a level of growth that would have been restricted under prior regulations.
3. According to the report, by reducing red tape, Montana has encouraged lower-cost, community-based care models, including outpatient surgery and physician-office-based services. These reforms have expanded access without relying on new taxpayer funding.
4. Montana’s experience shows that removing regulatory barriers like CON laws can stimulate competition and outpatient service growth. The state’s surge in ASC and home health development has positioned it as an example for other states struggling with workforce shortages, high costs and limited rural access.
5. The Gallatin Surgery Center, a joint venture between Intermountain Health and Billings-based Ortho Montana, opened in September. The 45,000-square-foot surgery center focusing on orthopedic and sports medicine services.
